U.S. Up to Constitution Review

Critics of the Articles of Confederation argued that it

• imposed unfair taxes on the states

• used a draft to raise a national army

• provided a strong system of federal courts

• placed too much power in the hands of the states

What principle of government is found both in the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States?

• The right to vote must be guaranteed to all Americans

• Supreme court justices should be elected by the people

• Governing power should be divided between different levels of government

• States have the right to secede from the union

Shay’s Rebellion (1786) became a concern for many national leaders because it

• indicated there would be future conflicts over the spread of slavery

• exposed fundamental weaknesses in government under the Articles of Confederation

• exposed the need for federal government regulation of interstate commerce

• showed the frontier settlements were vulnerable to raids by Native American Indians

Anti Federalists opposed ratification of the United States Constitution until they were assured that

• a bill of rights would be added to the original document to protect citizens from a tyrannical Federal government

• their supporters would receive a fair share of federal government jobs

• the president was given increased powers

• senators would be elected directly by the people

What is the most democratic feature of the original Constitution of the United States?

• role given to the electoral college in presidential elections

• appointment of ambassadors by the president

• direct election of the members of the House of Representatives

• lifetime appointments for Supreme Court justices

Federalism is best defined as a principle of government that

• divides power between the central government and state governments

• includes a system of checks and balances

• places the most power in the hands of the legislative branch

• all of the above

Separation of Powers

• Govt is separated into branches with their own powers so that no branch is the most powerful

• Congress is separated into two houses so that lawmaking is easier

• Idea from John Locke that all people are born with

• Congress is separated into committees

Checks and balances

• branches have ways of checking the powers of the other branches

• how to make sure you know how much money you have in your bank account

• Congress checks all actions of the President

• The Supreme Court checks each law Congress makes

1st Amendment

• right to bear arms

• Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition the govt

• no cruel and unusual punishment

• no quartering of soldiers during peacetime

Electoral College

• votes given to Congress for the Presidential election

• College where Supreme Court Justices must attend before being appointed

• electors vote from each state based on their states vote. numbers are different for each state

• electors vote for who they want on the Supreme Court