Chapter 3 Section 2 Questions 5-8

5) In what ways can the states restrain the powers of Congress in the amendment process?

-2/3 of the states can request a nation convention

-If passed by congress, the states must ratify amendments (3/4 majority)

6) How does the amendment process in the United States Constitution demonstrate that the United States has a federal system of government?

-There is an equal balance between national and state government, necessary to amend the constitution.

-First from the national congress to the state congress

-Congress has to propose something, the states must ratify it

7) What is the connection between the movement of the 1960s and the drive for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s?

The 1960s were a time of civil unrest, where the people wanted more power and equality. This time was better for the ERA because there were more people to back it up.

8) Why do you think that Congress has established deadlines for ratifying amendments?

So the states would have to eventually make up their minds instead of dragging things out and never approving or disapproving of the amendments.

Chapter 3 section 2

1) What is the structure of the Constitution?  Briefly describe each section:

A) Preamble – states why the constitution was written. It listed six goals for American government: to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty

B) Seven Articles – the body of the constitution. Each article addresses a different topic. In Articles I, II, and III, they created the three branches – legislative, executive, and judicial – of our government. Article IV describes the relationship of the states and the government. Article V says in what ways the constitution can be amended. Article VI states that the constitution, laws passed by congress, and treaties of the US shall be the supreme law of the nation. Finally, article VII says that the Constitution would take effect after getting the approval of nine states.

C) The Amendments – there are 27 amendments in our constitution. These amendments help keep the constitution updated and fair for our ever-changing country.

2) What are the six major principles of government?  Describe each.

1-popular sovereignty: rule by the people, governmental actions must be OK’d by the citizens whose lives it will effect

2-federalism: power is divided between national and state governments.

3-seperation of powers – limits the central government by dividing power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each branch has its responsibilities.

4-checks and balances – each branch of government exercises some form of control over the other. For example, congress passes laws. The president can veto this, but congress can override his veto with a 2/3 vote in each house.

5-judicial review – the courts can declare laws and such invalid if they can prove it violates the constitution.

6-limited government – the constitution limits the powers of government. It restricts the actions of government by specifically listing its powers and what it does not have.

3) How does the Constitution divide the powers of the federal government?

It splits it into three branches of equal power that are all specialized on a specific subject.

4) What role do the federal courts play in checking the power of the legislative branch?

They can abolish laws that violate the constitution.

5) Why do you think the Founders provided that the President and Congress be elected but the federal judges to be appointed?

The President and the Congress are more of the people side of the government, whereas the judges are very powerful and can abolish laws that they deem unconstitutional. Because of this, the president and congress must approve of the judicial court and find who they think is worthy, which may not be who the people would elect.

Chapter 2 Section 4

In groups you will reading Chapter 2 Section 4: "The Constitutional Convention".

As you read answer the following questions.

1) Who were some important individuals at the convention.

George Washington

Benjamin Franklin

James Wilson

Gouveneur Morris

James Maddison

Alexander Hamilton

2) Who were the delegates?  What did they have in common?

55 delegates from various states, all of which had political experience, educated, wealthy white men

3) What were the key agreements?
Limited and representative government, favored a three branch system (legislative, judicial, executive), limit the power of the states to coin money of interfere with creditors’ rights

4) Compromises - briefly outline or explain the following compromises:

A) The Virginia Plan

The government should be based on three principals

-A strong national legislature with two chambers, the lower one to be chosen by the people and the upper one to be chosen by the lower one. The legislature would have the power to bar any state laws it found unconstitutional

-A strong national executive to be chosen by the national legislature

-A national judiciary to be appointed by the legislature

-Favored by large states

B) The New Jersey Plan
-One vote per state

-Congress would be able to impose taxes and regulate trade

-Weak executive branch consisting of more than one person elected by congress

-Created to help protect the power of smaller states

-Rejected

C) The Connecticut Compromise
Created to be a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan

House of Representatives

-based on population

-all revenue laws start here

Senate

-Two representatives

-State Legislatures would elect senators

D) The 3/5 Compromise
-Helped determine how many representatives

-South wanted more representatives

-North wanted the south to have less representatives because it would be unfair

-North wanted slaves to be counted for tax purposes but not in the house of representatives

-A slave was worth 3/5 of a person for taxes and representatives

E) The Slave-Trade Compromise
-Northern states wanted the government to have complete power over trade

-Southern states thought this would hurt their agricultural exports and slave trade industry

-Congress regulates both interstate commerce and foreign commerce

-Export tax is not allowed

F) The Slavery Question
-Slaves escaping to free states must be returned to their owners

-Delaware had forbidden importing slaves

-Connecticut and Rhode Island

G) The Electoral College and Presidential Term
-The states select electors to choose the president

-The president’s four-year term was a compromise between those wanting a long term and those wanting a short term

5) What was the Anti-Federalists strongest argument?
-There was no bill of rights

6) Who wrote the Federalist papers?

James Madison

John Jay

Alexander Hamilton

Declaration of Independence Outline

I.              Intro

a.    All men are created equal.

b.    The government was created to protect the rights of the people.

c.     People have the right to change the government.

d.    Below is the list of bad things Britain has done to the colonists.

II.            Reasons

a.    He forbid the passing of important laws

b.    Cutting off immigration

c.     He’s sent soldiers over to intimidate the colonists

d.    Cutting off trade

e.    Imposing unfair taxes

f.      Taking away charters

g.    Unfair trials overseas

h.    For abolishing the free systems of laws

i.      Altering the colony’s government

j.      Sending foreign mercenaries over to kill

k.    Forcing people to kill their brothers

l.      We’ve been trying to discuss this peacefully with them but they will not listen

III.         Conclusions

a.    Because of all of these things, we are finished being with Great Britain

b.    We’re free and independent states

c.     Pledged their lives to each other

Chapter 2 Section 2 Questions

In tracing the events you should briefly describe the importance of the following:

1) The Iroquois Confederation (who did it influence the Americans?)

The iroquois foundation was a very organized group of native americans from five different clans who banded together and created a constitution to follow. This unity influenced the concept of early American democracy.

2) The distance between Britain and the Colonies (the colonies being left to themselves)

Because Britain was so far away from the Colonies, the settlers felt they were entitled to self-government. This distance helped with the democratic actions in America, eventually pushing the colonists to break away from Britain.

3) The French and Indian War and emergence of King George III

King George III believed that the colonists needed to help pay off The French and Indian War because it was fought for the colonists’ protection, so he began imposing taxes on simple things in the colonies. This caused much outrage and rebellion, including the dumping of hundreds of cases of tea into Boston Harbor.

4) The Stamp Act, Boston Tea Party, and Coercive Acts

The Stamp act was a tax that made colonists pay tax on legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, and  playing cards. As British revenue grew, the colonists became more and more fed up with the unwanted taxes. In rebellion, they dumped 352 cases of British tea into Boston Harbor. The British imposed the Coercive Acts, commonly known as the Intolerable Acts, were imposed as punishment eventually getting the area closed.

5) Colonial Unity - the Stamp Act Congress, the committees of correspondence, The First and

Second Continental Congress

Britain’s tightening of the leash on America caused more unity within the 13 states, and soon they were working together to govern themselves better. The Stamp Act Congress gathered in New York to protest King George’s actions. They petitioned the king, saying only colonial legislatures should impose such taxes. In 1773 the committees of correspondence encouraged rebellion again the british. The First Continental Congress prohibited trade with Britain. The Second Continental Congress became the central government during the revolutionary war. It organized an army, a navy, and issued money for the war. It also covered the important act of negotiating treaties with other countries.

6) Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was once a British corset maker, and he created a wildly popular pamphlet titled “Common Sense.” In this pamphlet, he stated that monarchy was a corrupt form of government, and that people had the right to self-govern.