Constitution Review – Flashcards
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Many Americans distrusted a strong central government in which document is that reflected in?
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The Articles of Confederation
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The basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence came from where?
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The European Enlightenment Thinkers
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The elastic clause, the amending process, and judicial review are all methods of what?
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Flexibility or ways to change the Constitution
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What are some examples of checks and balances?
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The executive branch can veto bills from the legislative branch, and the legislative branch can override an executive veto
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What is one difference between the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?
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The Articles of Confederation does not have a strong central government; instead the states have all the power. There is also only one branch of government under the Articles of Confederation
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How were small states made happy at the Constitutional Convention?
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In the Senate all states were represented equally, 2 Senators per state. They created a bicameral legislature
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Why is the U.S. Government considered a federal system?
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Power is shared between the state and federal government
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What are the powers reserved for the federal government called?
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Delegated powers
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What the powers shared by the federal and state governments called?
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Concurrent Powers
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What are the powers reserved for the state governments called?
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Reserved powers
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Members of the Cabinet are directly responsible to whom?
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The current President
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What is judicial review?
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The Supreme Court checks that a bill/law/amendment does not violate the Constitution. Makes sure stuff is not unconstitutional
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Which action could eliminate the Electoral College?
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An amendment
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What idea did small states support at the Constitutional Convention?
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Each state should have equal representation in Congress
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Why was the Bill of Rights added to the U.S. Constitution?
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Because the anti-feds felt that the Constitution needed to specifically list our rights, the gov't could not be trusted
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What are the criticisms of the Electoral College?
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Takes away power from the people. People do not directly choose the President
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What is one similarity between the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?
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They both set up a government for the United States
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Why were checks and balances added to the Constitution?
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To make sure no one branch has more power
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What was the one accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation?
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The Northwest Ordinance, how territories would become states
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What were the Federalist Papers?
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A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton that argued for the ratification of the US Constitution
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What powers does the President have as Commander in Chief?
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Makes all decisions regarding the US Armed Forces
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Who ratifies treaties with foreign countries?
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Secretary of State
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Who licenses teachers? State of Federal Government?
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State Government
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Why is the Northwest Ordinance important?
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It set up the process in which territories become states
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The 5th and 6th Amendment protects whom?
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The accused
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What is the job of the Supreme Court?
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Cases involving Congress and the Constitution. To interpret the law
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What is a similarity between the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights?
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They protected the rights of the people
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Who can impeach the President?
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Congress
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How is the number of electoral votes for each state determined?
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Representatives + Senators = Electoral Votes
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Why was the Electoral College added to the Constitution?
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The American people cannot be trusted to choose an appropriate candidate
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What is the elastic clause? Give one example
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The ability to stretch the meaning of the US Constitution to allow the creation of certain institutions. For example the creation of the US Air Force
