AP Gov: Chapter 2

Question 1

Representative assembly:

Answer 1

A legislature composed of individuals who represent the population.

• Jamestown

Question 2

Separatists, the Mayflower, & the Compact

Answer 2

Compact: political system in which the signers agreed to relate & submit to the authority of a gov, pending the receipt of a royal charter.

1600s Colonist made the Mayflower Compact

William Bradford = separatist leaders

Question 3

More Colonies, More Government

Answer 3

• 1630: MA Bay Colony
• Americans developed concept of limited gov
• Used self-gov cause of distance from London
• Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges (1701) foreshadowed the Constitution & Bill of Rights

Question 4

British Restrictions & Colonial Grievances

Answer 4

• 1760s: British imposed taxes on the colonies, conflicts start
• British require Americans to pay the costs of the French & Indian War (1756-1763)
• 1764: The Sugar Act passed = colonist unwilling to pay taxes
• 1765: The Stamp Act passed = “taxation without representation”
  - Colonist boycotted & felt unity
• 1767: taxes on glass, lead, paint, etc. = colonist boycotted British goods
• Boston Tea Party = The “Intolerable Acts”

Question 5

The First Continental Congress

Answer 5

• Sep 5th 1774 = delegates form 12/13 colonies
• Sent letter to British about their hardships, Britain saw this as an act of rebellion.
• Respond to the British Parliament’s Intolerable Acts
• The Congress produced the Continental Association, a system for a boycott of British goods, and the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which asserted the colonists’ rights as Englishmen.

Question 6

The Second Continental Congress

Answer 6

(1775–1781)
- Served as the de facto government of the colonies during the American Revolutionary War, transitioning from colonial governments to establishing the American national government.

• It oversaw the war effort by forming the Continental Army, appointing Washington its commander, raising funds, & issuing paper currency.

-Most significant act was declaring independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, & later drafting the Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States.

Question 7

The Resolution of Independence

Answer 7

• July 2nd from the 2nd Continental Congress
• Not any power in it, but important for other countries to see the independence

Question 8

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

Answer 8

• Thomas Jefferson wrote it
• He argued that this doc was necessary
• August 2, signed by members of the 2nd Continental Congress
• Declared the American colonies’ separation from Great Britain.

Question 9

Universal Truths

Answer 9

• Natural Rights
• Peoples right to get rid of a destructive gov

Question 10

Natural Rights & Social Contract

Answer 10

NR: rights held to be inherent in natural law, not dependent on gov. Locke stated it being superior to humans law, “life, liberty, and property.”

• Declaration justifies the colonist revolt against Britain

Question 11

Unicameral

Answer 11

A legislature with only one legislative chamber, opposite bicameral.

• Republicans attempted to maintain the politics of 1776

Question 12

Confederation

Answer 12

A political system in which states or regional gov retain ultimate authority expect for those powers they expressly delegate to a central gov.

A voluntary association of independent states, in which the member states agree to limited restraints on their freedom of action.

• Fear of powerful central government lead to articles creation (June 1776)

Question 13

States

Answer 13

A group of people occupying a specific area & organized under 1 gov; may be either a nation or sub unit of a nation.

Question 14

Accomplishments under the Articles

Answer 14

• Claims to Western land settled
• Northwest Ordinance of 1787 = established a basic pattern of gov new territories north of the Ohio River.

Question 15

Weakness of the Articles

Answer 15

• Congress had no right to demand revenues from the states, could only ask for them
• Actions of Congress required consent from the states
• Amendments to articles required unanimous consent of Congress & conformation by way state legislature.
• No national gov
• Could not levy taxes

Question 16

Shays’ Rebellion

Answer 16

Shays’ Rebellion was an armed uprising that took place in 1786-1787, led by farmer Daniel Shays and other rural citizens in Massachusetts protesting against economic injustices and the lack of government response to their financial struggles.

• Showed that central gov couldn’t protect citizen’s from armed rebellion.

Question 17

Drafting the Consitution

Answer 17

Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, where delegates created a new framework to replace the weak Articles of Confederation.

Key figures like George Washington and James Madison debated to establish principles of federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances, resulting in a stronger national government and resolving issues through compromises like the Great Compromise.

Question 18

The Virginia Plan

Answer 18

• A proposal at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
• For a strong, three-branched national government with a bicameral (two-house) legislature where representation was based on state population.

Question 19

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 19

A legislature made up of two parts, called champers.

• The U.S. Congress, composed of the House of Representatives & the Senate, is a bicameral Legislature.

Question 20

The New Jersey Plan

Answer 20

• A proposal at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
• Advocated for a unicameral (one-house) legislature with equal representation for all states, regardless of population size.

Question 21

The Supremacy Doctrine

Answer 21

Asserts the priority of national law over state law.

Question 22

The “Great Compromise”

Answer 22

Compromise between Virginia & New Jersey plan that created 1 chamber of Congress based on population & 1 chamber of rep state equally

Question 23

3/5 compromise

Answer 23

An agreement made at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that determined three out of every five enslaved persons would be counted when determining a state’s total population for purposes of both Congressional representation and direct taxation.

Question 24

Separation of Powers

Answer 24

The principle of dividing gov powers among different branches of gov

• Delegates wanted to prevent tyranny

Question 25

Madisonian Model

Answer 25

Students of gov which the powers of gov are separated into 3 branches - executive, legislative, & judicial - No one branch had power to dominate the others

Question 26

Checks & balances

Answer 26

Each branch of the gov can check the actions of the others. - The president's veto power over legislation, which Congress can override with a two-thirds vote - The Senate's confirmation of presidential nominations, such as judicial and cabinet appointments - Congress's impeachment power, which can lead to the removal of executive and judicial officials from office.

Question 27

Electoral college

Answer 27

Group of persons called electors selected by the voters in each states officially elects the president & VP of the US - The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of state reps in both chambers of Congress.

Question 28

Federal System

Answer 28

System of gov which power is divided between a central gov & regional, or subdivision, governments - Each level must have some domain, & some genuine political or constitutional guarantee of its authority - Allows for the states to make their own laws about many issues, states & national laws

Question 29

Final Document

Answer 29

Sep 17, 1787: the Constitution approved by 39 delegates - Ratified = popular sovereignty, Republican gov, limited gov, separation of Powers, a federal system allowing state rights to limit centralized control.

Question 30

Ratification & Limits

Answer 30

- Formal approval - Each state held a convention vote on the Constitution, founder knew ratification would take a while - 9/13 had to approve

Question 31

Federalist

Answer 31

In favor of the adoption of the Constitution & the creation of a federal union with states, central gov - Madison, Hamilton, Washington - Wealthy, well-educated, prominent Americans, merchants, bankers, conservative small farmers, and plantation owners from the North, with some support in southern areas as well.

Question 32

Anti-Federalist

Answer 32

Opposed the ratification of the new constitution & opposed to a strong central gov - Rural Americans, including small farmers, artisans, and laborers, but also included some prominent political figures.

Question 33

The Federalist Papers

Answer 33

A series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to persuade citizens to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Question 34

The Anti-Federalist Response

Answer 34

- Claimed constitution was written by aristocrats & would lead to aristocrat tyranny - To much central gov power - Wanted to include the Bill of Rights

Question 35

State Ratifying

Answer 35

Assemblies of delegates within each state that met to vote on whether to approve the newly proposed U.S. Constitution

Question 36

The Bill of Rights & A "Bill of Limits"

Answer 36

Passed to protect individual liberties, protection against national gov 1) freedom of religion, speech, press, people to peacefully assemble, & the right to petition 2) 2) right to bear arms 3) protection from quartering soldiers 4) protection from unreasonable searches 5) Ensures your right to due process, rights in criminal cases like no double jeopardy 6) the right to a speedy trial 7) the right to a jury trial in civil cases 8) protection from excessive bail and cruel punishment 9) rights not listed are still the people's 10) powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people Limits: Sets limits on government by guaranteeing individual rights and liberties, or the general concept of limits on government power achieved through constitutional principles like enumerated powers, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

Question 37

State Government Powers

Answer 37

Sets limits on gov by guaranteeing individual rights & liberties, or the general concept of limits on gov power achieved through constitutional principles like enumerated powers, separation of powers, & checks & balances. Fed power: Coining money Regulating interstate and foreign commerce Declaring war and raising an army Establishing post offices State power: Regulating intrastate commerce Running elections Establishing and overseeing public schools Issuing licenses for marriage, drivers, and other professions Conducting local police and public safety activities

Question 38

The Formal Amendment Process

Answer 38

Outlined in Article V of the Constitution, involves two main stages: proposal and ratification. - An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. - Once proposed, the amendment must be ratified by a three-fourths majority of the states, either through their legislatures or state conventions. - Congress determines which ratification method (state legislature or state convention) will be used. -The National Convention Provision

Question 39

Informal Methods of Constitutional Change

Answer 39

- Congressional leg, Congress pass laws interpreting part of the constitution - Supreme Court give new meaning to the constitution - Presidential Action, orders, executive orders, executive actions - Customs & practices of society

Question 40

Interpretation, Custom, and Usage

Answer 40

Interpretation: is how laws and the Constitution are understood and applied, often through judicial review or originalism versus living constitutionalism. Custom refers to practices that become accepted and influential, even without formal laws, such as the role of the Cabinet. Usage is the practical application of these principles in the government, like how executive orders are used to direct the bureaucracy.