U.S Constitution Review and Added Notes

1. Explain the system of checks and balances established by the Constitution- What is "checks and balances"? What is it designed to do? Give an example.
~Checks and Balances are the limits and powers/responsibilities given to each branch. It was designed to make sure no branch has too much power. For example, Congress can write a bill and pass it, the president can veto the bill, but Congress can override the bill with 2/3 majority, but the Judicial Branch can declare the law unconstitutional.

2. Why is freedom of the press so important in a free society?
To give information about the government to the public.

3. King John of England signed the Magna Carta in 1215. What ideas did the Founding Fathers borrow from this document to include in the English Bill of Rights?
People accused of a crime have a right to a trial by a jury of their equals.

4.What are the five rights in the First amendment?
Freedom of Speech, freedom of religion , freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom to petition the government.

5.Who was John Peter Zenger?
John Peter Zenger had published a true critical argument about the New York governor.

6.What happened to John Peter Zenger?
The NY governor had Zenger placed in jail. Zenger sued and won saying the press must have the rights to point out the faults of government.

7.What right appears in the Bill of Rights because of this?
Freedom of the Press

8. The first ten amendments to the U.S constitution were designed to protect the rights of citizens.

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9. Explain the process of how the constitution can be changed?
Two-thirds of each house of Congress votes to amend the U.S constitution. Or 2/3 of state legislatures can propose an amendment. 3/4 of states needed to ratify.

10. What powers are included in the judicial branch? What courts are included in the judicial branch?
The power to review law and declare laws unconstitutional. Supreme Court.

11. Explain the background behind the Great Compromise. What was it? What was the argument? Who was arguing? How was it solved?
Delegates from large states believed that since their states contributed proportionally more to the nation, they should enjoy more representation. Small states disagreed and believed that it should be equally. Combination of the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan created a bicameral legislature. House of Representatives was based on population and the senate was based on equality.

12. Explain the 3/5 compromise. What was it? What was the argument? Who was arguing? How was it solved?
The 3/5 compromise outlined the process for states to count slaves as part of the population in order to determine representation for the federal government. The North and the South argued. The South wanted every slave to count towards population, and the North did not.
The Conclusion:
The two sides of the argument agreed to count three out of every five slaves toward state populations and for taxation.

13. What is an amendment?
A change to the constitution.

14. Why did the Framers of the U.S constitution intentionally make the amendment process difficult?
So people would not unnecessarily change the constitution.

15. What documents form the roots of our constitution?
Mayflower Compact, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.

16. Since the number of representatives states sent to Congress was based on each state's population, smaller states felt they were being cheated. To appease the smaller states, the Great Compromise provided for what two governing bodies?
House of Representatives and the Senate.

17. Shays' Rebellion helped lead to the Constitution.

18. What is a republican system of government?
Where people elect others to rule the government for them.

19. Explain the concept of separation of powers in the constitution. What is it? Why is it important?
Means powers of the government are divided into three branches so no one branch becomes too powerful.

20. What did the U.S weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Shays' Rebellion lead to?
The destruction of the Articles of Confederation and a new constitution.

21. What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?
To establish policies for the creation of new states and the admitting of these states into the confederacy.

22. What land was included in the Northwest Ordinance?
Land in the Ohio River valley, west of the Appalachian Mountains, east of the Mississippi.

23. How did the United States solve the problem of weak central government under the articles of confederation?
Created the U.S Constitution.

24. Which event occurred in 1787?
Signing of the constitution and the constitutional convention.

25. What type of national government did the federalist want?
A strong central government and a weak state government.

26. Explain the system of federalism under the constitution?
Sharing of powers between state and national government. Delegated Powers- Powers given to the federal government. Reserved Powers- powers given to the state. Concurrent- Both.

27. Who was considered the father of the constitution?
James Madison.

28. Describe the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?
Orderly expansion of the U.S.

29. The Federalist Papers, written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison in 1787, supported the ratification of the Constitution.

30. What power given to the Congress in the constitution was specifically intended to prevent the president from acting against the will of the people?
Power to override a veto.

31. Which principle of government is illustrated by creating three branches of government in our constitution?
Separation of powers.

32. Describe the concept of a confederation.
Loose union of which states retain their power and control.

33. What year was the Bill of Rights adopted?
1791.

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Eighth Grade Review on the U.S Constitution and some history behind it.