1. Constitution of the United States
1. What did each state complete after declaring independence?
2. What did each of these things have in common in every state?
3. Why was there a need for the states to form a single country?
4. What was the name given to our first national government?
5. Describe the main components of this first national government.
6. List at least four weaknesses of this new government.
7. Why was passing laws so difficult under this government?
8. What was the main cause of complaint during Shay's rebellion?
9. Where did the delegates of 12 states meet in 1787?
10. What decision did the delegates make about the Articles of Confederation upon their arrival?
11. Why did the delegates keep their discussions at the convention secret?
12. What became the biggest issue of debate during the convention?
13. Name the two plans that dominated talks at the convention?
14. Describe the plan proposed by James Madison.
15. Why did some state object to this plan?
16. Name and in describe the alternative plan that was suggested.
17. How were the differences in the two plans negotiated?
18. Briefly describe the main point of the 3/5ths compromise.
19. What were the provisions of the slave trade compromise?
20. In what ways with this new government be different than the articles?
21. What group came to support the passage of the new Constitution?
22. Name the group who opposed the new constitution, because they felt the government had too many powers?
23. What were the Federalist Papers, and who wrote them?
24. What was eventually promised in order to gain the passage of the Constitution?
25. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
26. What is the purpose of this introduction?
27. How many articles or parts are in the Constitution?
28. Briefly describe the contents of Article One of the Constitution?
29. Briefly describe the contents of Article Two of the Constitution?
30. Briefly describe the contents of Article Three of the Constitution?
31. Article Four of the Constitution states that full faith and credit should be given to the laws of each state by the other states. Why is this important?
32. What is the importance of Article Five?
33. This is the name given to the system built into the Constitution, where one branch of government watches and helps to control abusive activities of the other branches?
34. What is popular sovereignty, and in what way do we practice it?
35. This is a governmental system that shares powers between a national government and smaller local governments?
36. These are powers that are given directly to the national government by the Constitution?
37. These are powers that are shared by the national government, and all other levels of government?
38. These are powers that are given only to the state and local governments?
39. What special property of the Constitution has enabled it to survive 200 years of change and still function?
40. Name the two ways of changing the Constitution?
41. What are the two parts of amending the Constitution?
42. Why has the Constitution been amended very few times?
43. This is a phrase in Article One of the Constitution that enables the government to do many things that are not specifically listed in the Constitution?
44. This is the name given to the powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution?
45. Who has the final interpretation of the Constitution?