Term
| A common critique of the Constitution is that its wording is vague. But this also appears to be one of its strengths. What is the most likely reason that vague language is important for the constitution to have lasted so long as a viable framework for government? |
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Definition
| It allows the Constitution to adapt more easily to changing times. |
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Term
| The framers were practical politicians. They knew that, to prevent tyranny in their young country, they would have to craft a Constitution that "checks power with power." What does this concept mean? |
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Definition
| Power would need to be distributed to several branches of government so that the power of one branch could be checked by the other branches. |
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Term
| The founders believed that _________ power was corrupting and that a concentration of power was dangerous. |
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Definition
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Term
| Which provision concerning slavery appeared in the Constitution? |
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Definition
| the Three-fifths compromise |
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Term
| One of the ways to change the Constitution is through "informal amendments" through judicial interpretation. Since such interpretation does not change the wording of the Constitution itself, a possible long-term result is that _________. |
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Definition
| the interpretations may change from era to era |
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Term
| Which of the following is generally true about the effect of constitutional amendments on the American political system? |
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Definition
| Amendments have made the country more democratic and expanded rights to exclude groups |
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Term
| Which of the following statements is true of the Constitution's separation of powers? |
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Definition
| It was accomplished by splitting the government into three branches |
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Term
| How did Federalists address fears about an all-powerful, centralized government to sway opinion toward ratifying the Constitution? |
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Definition
| They promised to create the bill of rights. |
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Term
| Colonial leaders believed that the greatest danger of the abusive use of government power would be _________. |
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Definition
| destroying individual's liberty |
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Term
| In addition to the formal process for amending the Constitution, there are informal ways of doing so. Which of the following is an example of this? |
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Definition
Guess: Changes in society that change the meaning of the words in the Constitution
(NOT an act passed by the Senate) |
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Term
| Why did the framers create the Electoral College? |
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Definition
| Because they didn't trust the masses to elect the president directly |
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Term
| In creating a national government with a system of checks and balances, the framers sought to _________. |
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Definition
| limit the ability of any branch of the national government to become too powerful |
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Term
| The United States' first written constitution was known as the _________. |
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Definition
| Articles of Confederation |
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Term
| The New Jersey and Virginia Plans differed mainly over whether _________. |
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Definition
| states should have an equal number of representatives |
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Term
| Which of the following best describes the adaptive approach of the Constitution? |
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Definition
| One should be willing to adapt the Constitution to changing societal needs. |
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Term
| What was the initial goal of the American Revolution? |
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Definition
| to restore colonists' traditional rights as British subjects |
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Term
| Which of the following was a risk the framers associated with democracy? |
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Definition
| impulsive decisions by the majority |
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Term
| which of the following best describes the view of the Constitution as a living document? |
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Definition
| One should be willing to adapt the Constitution to changing societal needs |
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Term
| When the Framers constructed a federal government in which each branch has specific powers that are checked by the other two branches, what was one advantage they intended? |
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Definition
| it protected against government tyranny by one branch or by all three acting together |
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Term
| The beginning of the Declaration of Independence asserts "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed." This is an expression of _________. |
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Definition
| natural rights and social contract theory |
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Term
| The anti-Federalists opposed ratification of the proposed Constitution because |
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Definition
| it did not include a bill of rights |
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Term
| The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, produced _________. |
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Definition
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Term
| the most common method for amending the Constitution has been approval by |
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Definition
| Congress and the state legislatures |
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Term
| Under the Articles of Confederation, the central government had _________. |
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Definition
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