1. Chapter 2
The Constitution

2. SAMPLE AP TEST QUESTION
In a referendum, citizens express their opinions about issues by means of
A. letters
B. ballots
C. town meetings
D. petitions
E. Both A and D

3. SAMPLE AP TEST QUESTION
The Founders assumed that representative democracy would
A. prevent sweeping changes in policy
B. allow persons with higher levels of education to exercise more power
C. result in decisions that were generally efficient and timely
D. often proceed slowly
E. Both A and D

4. Current Events pertaining to the Constitution

5. Thoughts on American Mindset?
What were Americans thinking about during the colonial period?
What were their influences?
What is the set up of a Confederate Government?

6. Problems with the Articles of Confederation
No form of taxation
Each state had only 1 vote in congress
Army dependent on state militias
No national judicial system

7. Problems with the Articles of Confederation: Currency
Connecticut currency (coined in 1787)

8. Shay’s Rebellion

9. Constitutional Convention

10. Virginia Plan Strong national union
Legislature with supreme power on all maters not designated to the states
Could veto any state decisions
At least one house of the legislature would be directly elected
Representation based on population

11. New Jersey Plan Each state received one vote in the legislature
Have one house be elected by the state legislatures
Developed in rebuttal to Virginia Plan

12. The compromise 2 house legislature
Directly elected population based House
State elected equally proportioned Senate

13. What form of government did this constitution create?
Republic
How was popular rule evident in the Convention’s agreements?
How does Judicial Review protect both government and personal rights?
Enumerated and Reserved powers
Federalism

14. Anti Federalists

15. Federalists

16. The Bill of Rights: The First Ten Amendments of the Constitution

17. 1. First Amendment:
Freedom of Speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, right to assemble, and right to petition

18. 2. Second Amendment:
The right to bear arms

19. 3. Third Amendment:
The National Government may not quarter troops in a citizen’s home without consent

20. 4. Fourth Amendment:
Protection against unwarranted searches and seizures

21. 5. Fifth Amendment:
(1) Grand Jury Indictment required for serious crimes
(2) Due Process is guaranteed
(3) Protection from double jeopardy: Cannot be tried for the same crime twice
(4) Protection from self-incrimination
(5) The government cannot take private property without just financial compensation (eminent domain)

22. 6. Sixth Amendment:
The right to a fair and speedy trial (criminal cases)

23. 7. Seventh Amendment:
Individuals have the right to a trial by jury in civil cases

24. 8. Eighth Amendment:
Protection against cruel and unusual punishments and protection from excessive bail

25. 9. Ninth Amendment:
Guarantees rights not expressed specifically in the Constitution (innumerable rights)

26. 10. Tenth Amendment:
Powers not delegated to the National Government are reserved to the states (reserved powers)

27. The Amendment Process: Methods used to add amendments to the constitution
Proposing an Amendment (two methods)
Ratifying an Amendment (two methods)

28. Slavery?

29. Economic Motives
Did economic interests motivate the framers of the Constitution?
Slavery?
Private Property?
Effectiveness?
Yes and no

30. Modern constitution and reform
Should we reduce separation of powers, including certain checks and balances?
Emergencies
Bureaucratic hold ups
Ideas
Allow the president to resolve congress
Allow congress to hold special elections for office of president when the president has lost the faith of the people
Single term for president

31. Less Democracy Require balanced budget every year? Line-item Veto
Narrow authority on federal courts

32. Closure
What were 2 of the largest problems with the Article of Confederation?
Which plan for the Legislature was submitted first, and how did this affect the outlook on the second plan?
What were some of the motives of the founding fathers, and how did these motives allow for the checks and balances?