Download Unit 2 Concept Sheet

Unit 2 – The Constitution – Word Association List
Articles of Confederation – 1) Weak National Government
2) Power given to the States
3) First National Government
Purpose of the Constitutional Convention – 1) Reform the Articles of Confederation
2) Strengthen the National Government under the Articles of Confederation
Biggest disagreement at the Constitutional Convention – Representation in Congress
Virginia Plan – Representation based upon population
New Jersey Plan – equal representation per state
Great Compromise (a.k.a. the Connecticut Compromise) –
1) Settles the issue of representation in Congress.
2) Bi-cameral legislature
bi-cameral – 2 house legislature (House of Representatives and the Senate)
3/5th Compromise – 1) slaves counted as 3/5th of a person
2) settles representation issue between North and South in regard to counting slaves
interstate commerce – 1) trade between the states
2) regulated by the national government
intrastate commerce – 1) trade within a state
2) regulated by the state governments
democracy – 1) people rule
2) citizen involvement in the government (ex. Voting)
popular sovereignty – 1) majority rule
2) democracy
republic - Representatives elected by the people to run the government
Federalism (a.k.a. a federal form of government) –
1) Dividing power of government between different levels (i.e. Federal, state, & local)
2) Interactions between the national government and the state governments
3) Limits power of Federal government
Supremacy Clause – 1) Constitution is the highest authority in the country
2) national government has authority over the states
Flexibility – The Constitution can change to meet the needs/desires of the times
Features that allow Constitution to be flexible? Judicial Review, Amendment Process,
Implied powers - Elastic Clause
Judicial Review - declare the law constitutional or unconstitutional
Marbury v. Madison – Judicial Review
Amendment Process – 1) Gives Constitution flexibility
2) Formal change to the Constitution
Purpose of Checks & Balances – Keeps any one branch from having too much power
Separation of powers – 1) Divides the power of the government across 3 branches.
2) Limits power of the government
Delegated powers – powers of National Government
Examples of Delegated powers – 1) Maintain an army
2) declare war
3) coin money
4) regulate interstate commerce
Unit 2 Concept Sheet - page 1
Reserved powers – powers of State Government
Examples of Reserved powers – education, elections, marriage, intrastate commerce
Concurrent powers – powers shared by National and state governments
Examples of Concurrent powers – 1) tax
2) borrow money
3) create laws
4) build roads
5) create courts
Example of Implied powers – elastic clause
Elastic clause quote – “necessary and proper”
Elastic clause is what type of power? Implied power
Census – counting up of the population
What is affected by the census? 1) Apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives
2) The number of Electoral College votes per state
Apportionment – The reallocation (resetting) of seats in the House of Representatives
Impeachment – formal charge against a public official with a crime
Role of the House of Representatives in the impeachment process? Formally accuses elected
official of wrong doing
Role of the Senate in the impeachment process? 1) Acts as jury during trial
2) Can remove official from office
Special powers of the Senate?
1) Approve presidential appointments to the cabinet, Supreme Court, and diplomatic
positions
2) Approves of treaties made by president
3) filibuster
Filibuster – unlimited debate
When was the Filibuster frequently used? During the 1950’s and 1960’s by Southern
Congressmen to stop the passage of Civil Rights legislation
Cabinet – 1) president’s advisors
2) appointed by the president, approved by the Senate
Job of the president when he is Commander in Chief – In charge of the military
Job of the president when he is Chief Diplomat – 1) Foreign Affairs
2) Makes treaties
Job of the president when he is Chief Executive – 1) State of the Union Address
2) Appoint federal judges, cabinet members, and ambassadors
pardon – President can forgive people’s crimes, release them from prison or prosecution
Most famous example of a presidential pardon – President Ford pardoned Nixon after the
Watergate controversy
Job of the president when he is Chief Legislator – 1) The president can propose legislation
2) president signs a bill into a law
3) president can veto a bill so it won’t become a law
Veto – presidential power to reject a bill passed by Congress
Electoral College votes per state – Equal to the number of members in the House of
Representatives plus the number of Senators from the state
Criticisms of the Electoral College –
1) Candidate with most popular votes doesn’t always win (Ex. 2000 – Bush v. Gore)
2) Distorts margin of victory
How to change the Electoral College – Add an Amendment
Purpose of the Judicial Branch – interpret the law
Unit 2 Concept Sheet - page 2
Why are judges appointed for life? Free from outside pressures (Ex. Lobbying, public opinion)
John Marshall –
1) They expanded the power of the Federal government, especially the Supreme Court
2) He established the power of Judicial Review in his decision to Marbury v. Madison
Earl Warren – protects the rights of the:
1) accused
2) students
3) minorities
Activist judge – uses court decisions to create new laws or policies (Ex. Miranda Rights)
Federalists – 1) Wanted a strong National government
2) Wanted to ratify (approve) of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists – 1) Wanted to protect the rights of individuals
2) Was afraid of a strong national government
3) Demanded a Bill of Rights be added to Constitution
Federalist Papers – Attempted to persuade people to ratify the Constitution
Purpose of the Bill of Rights – Protect individuals rights from the National Government
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Unit 2 – The Constitution – Word Association List
Articles of Confederation – 1) Weak ____________________________
2) Power given to the ___________________________
3) First ____________________ Government
Purpose of the Constitutional Convention – 1) _____________ the Articles of Confederation
2) ___________________ the National Government under the Articles of Confederation
Biggest disagreement at the Constitutional Convention – ______________________ in Congress
Virginia Plan – _______________________________________________________________
New Jersey Plan – _________________________________________________________
Great Compromise (a.k.a. the Connecticut Compromise) –
1) Settles the issue of _________________________________________________
2) __________________________________ legislature
bi-cameral – 2 house legislature (_______________________________ and the ____________)
3/5th Compromise – 1) slaves counted as 3/5th of a person
2) settles representation issue between ___________ and __________ in regard to
counting slaves
interstate commerce – 1) trade _______________________________
2) regulated by the ___________________ government
intrastate commerce – 1) trade _____________________________________
2) regulated by the ________________ governments
democracy – 1) ________________________
2) citizen involvement in the government (ex. __________________________)
popular sovereignty – 1) ___________________________________
2) democracy
republic - _________________________________________________________________
Federalism (a.k.a. a federal form of government) –
1) Dividing power of government between different _____________
(Ex. _____________, ___________, & _______________)
2) Interactions between the national government and the state governments
3) ____________________ power of Federal government
Supremacy Clause – 1) __________________ is the highest authority in the country
2) _____________________ government has authority over the _____________
Flexibility – The Constitution can _________________________________________________
Features that allow Constitution to be flexible?
1) ____________________________
2) _______________________________
3) ____________________________
Judicial Review - _____________________________________________________________
Marbury v. Madison – ___________________________________
Amendment Process – 1) Gives Constitution ____________________________________
2) Formal change to the Constitution
Purpose of Checks & Balances – ________________________________________________
Separation of powers – 1) Divides the power of the government across 3 branches.
2) _________________________ power of the government
Delegated powers – powers of _____________________ Government
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Examples of Delegated powers – 1) ______________________________
2) ________________________________
3) ________________________________
4) ________________________________
Reserved powers – powers of ______________ Government
Examples of Reserved powers – 1) ___________________________________
2) ____________________________
3) ______________________________
4) ____________________________
Concurrent powers – powers __________________________________________________
Examples of Concurrent powers – 1) _________________
2)__________________
3) _____________________ 4) _________________
5) _________________
Example of Implied powers – ________________________________
Elastic clause quote – “___________________________________”
Elastic clause is what type of power? _________________________ power
Census – ________________________________________
What is affected by the census? 1) Apportionment of seats in the _____________________
2) The number of ________________________________ votes per state
Apportionment – The reallocation (resetting) of seats in the House of Representatives
Impeachment – __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Role of the House of Representatives in the impeachment process? ___________________
___________________________________________________________________
Role of the Senate in the impeachment process? 1) _______________________________
2) _______________________________________________________________
Special powers of the Senate?
1) Approve presidential appointments to ___________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) Approves of _____________________________ made by president
3) filibuster
Filibuster – ________________________________________
When was the Filibuster frequently used? During the 1950’s and 1960’s by Southern
Congressmen to stop the passage of Civil Rights legislation
Cabinet – 1) _______________________________________
2) appointed by the president, approved by the ________________________
Job of the president when he is Commander in Chief – ___________________________
Job of the president when he is Chief Diplomat – 1) _____________________________
2) Makes _______________________________Job of the president when he is Chief Executive – 1) ____________________________
2) Appoint federal judges, cabinet members, and ambassadors
pardon – President can forgive people’s crimes, release them from prison or prosecution
Most famous example of a presidential pardon – __________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Job of the president when he is Chief Legislator – 1) The president can propose __________
2) president signs a _________________ into a law
3) president can ___________ a bill so it won’t become a law
Veto – presidential power to reject a bill passed by Congress
Unit 2 Concept Sheet - page 5
Electoral College votes per state – Equal to ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Criticisms of the Electoral College –
1) __________________________________________________________________
(Ex. 2000 – Bush v. Gore)
2) Distorts margin of ______________________
How to change the Electoral College – Add an ____________________________________
Purpose of the Judicial Branch – ___________________ the law
Why are judges appointed for life? Free from _______________________________
(Ex. Lobbying, public opinion)
John Marshall –
1) They ____________________________ the power of the Federal government,
especially the Supreme Court
2) He established the power of ____________________________ in his decision to
Marbury v. Madison
Earl Warren – protects the rights of the:
1) _______________ 2) ________________
3) __________________
Activist judge – uses court decisions to create new laws or policies (Ex. _________________)
Federalists – 1) Wanted a _______________________ National government
2) Wanted to ______________________ (approve) of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists – 1) Wanted to protect the rights of _________________________
2) Was ____________________________ of a strong national government
3) Demanded a _______________________________ be added to Constitution
Federalist Papers – Attempted to persuade people to _________________ the Constitution
Purpose of the Bill of Rights – __________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Unit 2 Concept Sheet - page 6