US Government Midterm Flashcards

Questions and Answers

The Virginia Plan proposed a system of representation in the national legislature that was based upon?

The population of each state or the proportion of each state's revenue contribution or both.

At the Philadelphia Convention, the proposed plan to create a Congress where representation was distributed according to population was called the ________ Plan.

Virginia Plan

Why did states like Delaware, Connecticut, and New York oppose the Virginia Plan?

They feared that large states would dominate the new government if representation were to be determined by population as stipulated by the Virginia Plan.

What did the New Jersey Plan propose for Congress?

Representation would be equal for each state. Signup and view all the answers

During the Philadelphia Convention, the New Jersey Plan was supported by ________ states.

Less populous states Signup and view all the answers

The issue of representation, which threatened to cause the Philadelphia Convention to fail, was resolved by the?

Connecticut Compromise Signup and view all the answers

In order to win concessions from large states at the Philadelphia Convention, representatives from smaller states such as Delaware threatened to?

Form alliances with foreign nations. Signup and view all the answers

James Madison believed that the greatest conflict of interests in the Philadelphia Convention was between and .

Northern states and southern states. Signup and view all the answers

How did the American victory in the Revolutionary War change the balance of political power in the new states?

Royal land, office, and patent holders were significantly weakened, and pre-Revolutionary radicals became the controlling forces in many state legislatures. Signup and view all the answers

Shays's Rebellion was an attempt to?

Prevent the state of Massachusetts from foreclosing on the lands of debt-ridden farmers. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a ramification of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

It allowed for a political agreement between the North and the South. Signup and view all the answers

Shays's Rebellion was significant because it?

Convinced many observers that the government under the Articles of Confederation had become dangerously inefficient and indecisive. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the motivations of the Founders in writing the U.S. Constitution?

The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system consistent with the dominant philosophical and moral principles of the day while also promoting commerce and protecting private property from radical state legislatures. Signup and view all the answers

Bicameralism is a constitutional principle that means the division of?

Congress into two chambers. Signup and view all the answers

Direct election of senators was instituted with the ________.

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The president's power to veto a bill passed by Congress is a good example of?

Checks and Balances. Signup and view all the answers

The electoral college is?

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The three branches of government created by the Constitution are?

Executive, Legislative, Judicial. Signup and view all the answers

Federalism is?

The system of shared powers, divided between a central government and the state governments. Signup and view all the answers

Federal judges are appointed by the and must be approved by the .

President, Senate. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term length of a federal judge?

Barring impeachment, life. Signup and view all the answers

The expressed powers of Congress are listed in ________ of the U.S. Constitution.

Article 1 Section 8 Signup and view all the answers

Which office did the framers design to be directly elected by the people?

A U.S. representative. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following possesses the sole power to create revenue bills?

The House of Representatives. Signup and view all the answers

Judicial review is the power of?

The courts to decide on the constitutionality of actions taken by the other branches of government. Signup and view all the answers

The power of judicial review was ________.

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Montesquieu called ________ the principle of giving each branch of government its own constituency.

A mixed regime. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

Virginia Plan proposed representation in the national legislature based on state population or revenue contribution.
The New Jersey Plan advocated for equal representation for each state in Congress.
States like Delaware, Connecticut, and New York opposed the Virginia Plan fearing dominance by larger states.
The Connecticut Compromise resolved representation issues by blending both plans into a bicameral legislature.

Key Events and Influences

Smaller states threatened alliances with foreign nations to secure concessions from larger states during the Philadelphia Convention.
James Madison highlighted the conflict of interest between northern and southern states.
Shays's Rebellion aimed to prevent foreclosures on debt-ridden farmers’ lands and exposed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Goals

Founders sought a system reflecting contemporary philosophical principles while promoting commerce and protecting property rights.
The Three-Fifths Compromise fostered political agreement between North and South.

Structure of Government

Bicameralism refers to Congress's division into two chambers.
The Constitution established three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
Federalism divides powers between central and state governments.

Judicial Powers and Congress

Federal judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving life terms unless impeached.
Expressed powers of Congress are detailed in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
The House of Representatives holds the sole power to create revenue bills.
Judicial review allows courts to assess the constitutionality of other branches' actions.

Electing Representatives

U.S. Representatives are directly elected by the people, ensuring direct representation.
Montesquieu described the principle of each government branch having its own constituency as a mixed regime.

Legislative Checks

The presidential veto exemplifies the system of checks and balances designed to prevent one branch from overpowering another.

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Prepare for your upcoming US Government midterm with these flashcards. Each card covers key concepts such as the Virginia Plan and representation in Congress. Test your knowledge and enhance your understanding of American political foundations.

US Government Midterm Flashcards

Questions and Answers

The Virginia Plan proposed a system of representation in the national legislature that was based upon?

At the Philadelphia Convention, the proposed plan to create a Congress where representation was distributed according to population was called the ________ Plan.

Why did states like Delaware, Connecticut, and New York oppose the Virginia Plan?

What did the New Jersey Plan propose for Congress?

During the Philadelphia Convention, the New Jersey Plan was supported by ________ states.

The issue of representation, which threatened to cause the Philadelphia Convention to fail, was resolved by the?

In order to win concessions from large states at the Philadelphia Convention, representatives from smaller states such as Delaware threatened to?

James Madison believed that the greatest conflict of interests in the Philadelphia Convention was between ________ and ________.

How did the American victory in the Revolutionary War change the balance of political power in the new states?

Shays's Rebellion was an attempt to?

Which of the following was a ramification of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Shays's Rebellion was significant because it?

Which of the following statements best describes the motivations of the Founders in writing the U.S. Constitution?

Bicameralism is a constitutional principle that means the division of?

Direct election of senators was instituted with the ________.

The president's power to veto a bill passed by Congress is a good example of?

The electoral college is?

The three branches of government created by the Constitution are?

Federalism is?

Federal judges are appointed by the ____ and must be approved by the ____.

What is the term length of a federal judge?

The expressed powers of Congress are listed in ________ of the U.S. Constitution.

Which office did the framers design to be directly elected by the people?

Which of the following possesses the sole power to create revenue bills?

Judicial review is the power of?

The power of judicial review was ________.

Montesquieu called ________ the principle of giving each branch of government its own constituency.

Study Notes

Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

Key Events and Influences

Constitutional Goals

Structure of Government

Judicial Powers and Congress

Electing Representatives

Legislative Checks

Studying That Suits You

Description

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