Foundational Documents

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

• First governmental document of the 13 colonies
• Flawed: weak congress (no power to prevent tyranny -> no System of Checks and Balances), difficult to pass laws (9/13 vote), no executive or judiciary branch, no power to tax citizens, no power to raise an army
• Unicameral Legislature

Question 2

Declaration of Independence

Answer 2

• Document justifying the 13 colonies break from Great Britain
• Natural rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (including property)
• Government’s job to protect citizens
• Consent of the Governed, Popular Sovereignty, Social Contract Theory, Limited Government
• Philosopher’s ideals (John Locke)

Question 3

Constitution

Answer 3

• Outlined the American government to be a Federalist republic
• Three branches of government
• Extradition Clause, privileges and immunities, full faith and credit Clause
• Amendable

Question 4

Article I

Answer 4

Legislative Branch

Question 5

Article II

Answer 5

Executive Branch

Question 6

Article III

Answer 6

Judicial Branch

Question 7

Article IV

Answer 7

Relationships Between the States

Question 8

Article V

Answer 8

Amending the Constitution

Question 9

Article VI

Answer 9

Supreme Law

Question 10

Article VII

Answer 10

Ratification

Question 11

Amendment 1

Answer 11

• Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition
• Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause

Question 12

Amendment 2

Answer 12

Right to Bear Arms

Question 13

Amendment 3

Answer 13

Quartering Soldiers

Question 14

Amendment 4

Answer 14

Searches and Seizures

Question 15

Amendment 5

Answer 15

Rights of Persons

Question 16

Amendment 6

Answer 16

Rights in Criminal Prosecutions

Question 17

Amendment 7

Answer 17

Civil Trial Rights

Question 18

Amendment 8

Answer 18

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Question 19

Amendment 9

Answer 19

Unenumerated Rights

Question 20

Amendment 10

Answer 20

• Rights Reserved to the States and the People
• Rights not given to the federal government are given to the states

Question 21

Amendment 11

Answer 21

Suits Against States

Question 22

Amendment 12

Answer 22

Election of President

Question 23

Amendment 13

Answer 23

Abolition of Slavery

Question 24

Amendment 14

Answer 24

Equal Protection and Other Rights
- Equal Protection Clause
- Due Process Clause

The Due Process Clause is also declared in the 5th Amendment

Question 25

Amendment 15

Answer 25

Right of Citizens to Vote regardless of race

Question 26

Amendment 16

Answer 26

Income Tax

Question 27

Amendment 17

Answer 27

Popular Election of Senators

Question 28

Amendment 18

Answer 28

Prohibition of Liquor

Question 29

Amendment 19

Answer 29

Women's Suffrage

Question 30

Amendment 20

Answer 30

Presidential Term and Succession

Question 31

Amendment 21

Answer 31

Repeal of Prohibition

Question 32

Amendment 22

Answer 32

Presidential Term Limits

Question 33

Amendment 23

Answer 33

District of Columbia Electors

Question 34

Amendment 24

Answer 34

Abolition of Poll Tax

Question 35

Amendment 25

Answer 35

Presidential Vacancy

Question 36

Amendment 26

Answer 36

Reduction of Voting Age

Question 37

Amendment 27

Answer 37

Congressional Compensation

Question 38

Brutus I

Answer 38

- Argued against a constitution favoring a strong central government - Against Necessary and Proper Clause (too much congressional power), Supremacy Clause (diminished state power), and having a Standing Army (destroyed liberty) - What power you give up must be taken back by force - Thought that the country was too large to be mainly run by a singular government

Question 39

Federalist 10

Answer 39

- Factions are inevitable, cannot be destroyed so we must manage them - Pluralism: Factions competing for influence leads to only the best ideas being enacted - Prevents tyranny of the majority - Views of the people are refined and enlarged by their elected representative

Question 40

Federalist 51

Answer 40

- Power divided between the three branches and between national and state governments - A System of Checks and Balances - This method prevented one body having too much power

Question 41

Federalist 70

Answer 41

- Single energetic executive: acts quickly and decisively and is easily accountable for their actions - Argued against plural executives due to possible confusion, disagreement, and inability to act decisively

Question 42

Federalist 78

Answer 42

Judiciary Life tenure ensures that justices are qualified and efficient - Judicial Review

Question 43

Letter From Birmingham Jail

Answer 43

- Justice delayed is justice denied - Utilized non-violent direct action to call for legislative efforts - 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause