2nd Quarter Review

2nd Quarter Review

1. What were the specific provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787? It determined how the NW Territory would be governed.

As a territory grew in population, it would gain self-governance:1.5,000 free adult males = elect an assembly2. 60,000 = apply to become a new state3. slavery was outlawed4. freedom of religion and trial by jury

2. What government weaknesses existed under the Articles of Confederation and how was it fixed?

A weak national (central ) government that:

1. Had no executive branch2. Could not enforce national laws3. Could not enact or collect taxes4. Could not regulate interstate or foreign trade5. Could not establish federal courts6. Could not amend (change) the Articles

A Constitutional Convention of 55 delegates was held in Philadelphia to rewrite the Articles and create a stronger national government.

3. How did the creation of a bicameral (2 part or house) legislature by the Great Compromise resolve the debate at the Constitutional Convention?

The Great Compromise settled the question of representation in the Legislature. It combined the Virginia & New Jersey Plans by creating:

Senate – equal representation with 2 reps per state

House of Representatives – representation based upon a states population

4. What is the system of checks and balances designed to do?

As a way to control the power of government, it is designed to ensure that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.

5. What are the Bill of Rights and what do they do?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution. They guarantee basic individual freedoms to citizens.

6. What is a federal system of government designed to do?

A principle that limits the power of government, it is a systemof government in which power is shared between the central (or federal) government and the states.

7. What is the function of Congress in the federal government?

Congress makes the laws

8. How can the president check the power of the legislative branch?

Veto acts of CongressCall special sessions of CongressCan suggest laws & send messages to Congress

9. What role does the Constitution assign to the judicial branch?

The judicial branch interprets the law

10. The First Amendment protects what freedoms?

The freedoms of SpeechPressReligionAssemblyPetition

11. What were the specific provisions of the Treaty of Paris of 1783?

United States was independentBoundaries set Fishing rights off Canadian coastEach side to repay debts it owed the otherExchange of prisonersCongress would recommend that states return Loyalists’ property

12. Why did the key states of Virginia and New York finally ratify the Constitution?

These politically important states had concerns about the creationof too strong of a central government so with the promise of the addition of a Bill of Rights to guarantee individual freedoms, they ratified the Constitution.

13. What were the specific provisions of the Land Ordinance of 1785?

• Organized western lands into six square mile plots (townships) which became known as the Northwest Territory• Eventually formed the states of: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, & part of Minnesota

14. Name the precedents (examples that became standard practice) established by president George Washington?

Agreed to be addressed as “Mr. President”The two-term presidencyEstablished the presidential cabinetFollowed a foreign policy of neutrality

15. How do the principles of the United States Constitution limit the power of government?

Popular Sovereignty – the country is ruled by the peoples’ consent (permission) to make the government

accountable to the people

Republicanism – people exercise their power by voting for political representatives which ensures that the people have a voice in government

Federalism – government power is divided between the central & state governments which gives them exclusive power in their areas

Checks & Balances – Controls that each branch of government has over the other branches to ensure that the

branches work together fairly and do not become too powerful

Individual Rights – the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments) guarantees certain personal liberties & privileges which shield people from an overly powerful government

Separation of Powers – the division of basic powers into branches so no one branch is given all the power