Constitution Flashcards
(39 cards)
When was the Philadelphia convention held?
25th May - 18th September 1787
When was the US Constitution completed?
17th September 1787
What was the Connecticut Compromise?
The splitting of the American governmental system into two chambers, with the lower house proportional to population and the upper house with equal representation for each state. This was to appease supporters of both The New Jersey Plan and The Virginia Plan.
When was the bill of rights ratified?
December 1791
Which three amendments together ended slavery and gave rights to former slaves?
13th, 14th and 15th
What did the 16th amendment achieve?
It increased governmental power as it allowed the government to impose income tax
What year were the 16th and 17th amendments passed in?
1913
Which amendment limited to only 2 terms?
22nd
What did the 26th amendment do?
It lowered the voting age to 18
How many amendments are there?
27
During what years was George W. Bush’s presidency?
2001-2009
Definition of constitutional rights:
The fundamental rights guaranteed by the federal Constitution, principally in the Bill of Rights
What does the 1st Amendment entail?
Freedom of religion, speech, press and assembly
What does the 2nd amendment guarantee?
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms”
What is prohibited by the 4th Amendment?
Unreasonable searches and seizures
What does the 5th amendment allow?
The right to silence - rights of accused persons
What does the 8th Amendment do?
Prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
What does the 10th amendment ensure?
Power is reserved to the states and to the people
Define the separation of powers:
The theory if government whereby political power is distributed among three branches of government - the legislature, the executive and the judiciary - acting both independently and interdependently
Define limited government:
A principle that the size and scope of the federal government should be limited to that which is necessary only for the common good of the people
At what event does the president lay out his proposed legislative programme for the coming year?
The State of the Union Address
Define impeachment:
A formal accusation of a federal official by a simple majority vote of the House of Representatives.
Define bipartisanship:
Close cooperation between the two major parties
What does the term ‘divided government’ refer to?
The situation in which one party controls the presidency and the other party controls Congress
