U4: Constitution and its Origins

What was a weakness in the AOC?

• A common treasury would pay for the costs of war

• Amendments required agreement from all 13 states

• Only congress had the authority to trade with foreign countries

• To pass a law required agreement from all 13 states

Why did the Anti-Federalists insist that the Constitution include Bill of Rights?

• They wanted to protect the people from a powerful government

• They didn't think a bill of rights was needed

• They feared state governments would become too powerful

• What's a Bill of Rights?

Why was the lack of legislative ability to regulate commerce a major weakness of the AOC?

• The ability of states to impose tariffs decreased trade

• The ability of the national executive to collect taxes unfairly burdened the poor

• The lack of bicameral legislature gave too much power to larger states

• The lack of a national court system made punishment for crimes difficult.

One of the main reasons the Framers chose the words "We the People" was to show the importance of popular sovereignty in the new government.

• True

• False

Which example illustrates the principle of checks and balances?

• The Supreme court interprets a federal law

• The President confers with the members of the Cabinet

• A case between citizens from different states is tried in a federal court

• The President vetoes legislation proposed by Congress

What was one of the Anti-Federalists' strongest arguments against the Constitution?

• It did not create a national executive

• It did not include a list of protected rights for individuals

• The new central government would be too dependent on the states

• The new central government would be too weak to protect American interests abroad

What is the goal of rule of law?

• To give all power to the government

• To make sure that no individual citizen or leader is above the law and that laws give government its power

• To make sure the executive branch has more power than the other two branches

• To make sure the role of law in government is applied to all non-government employees

True or False:

The AOC supported a weak central government, and the Federalists Papers supported a strong central government.

• True

• False

True or False:

Rule of law states "No one is above the law"

• True

• False

The Preamble is an introduction to the Constitution. It was written to explain...

• the reasons for writing the Declaration of Independence

• the reasons for having a weak central government

• the reasons for the writing the Constitution

• the reason for having amendments to the Constitution