The Constitution Study Guide
Republican government: a government by elected representatives of the people
Articles of Confederation: a weak central government
A Constitutional Convention was called to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution.
James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution"
Know the Preamble:
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty, to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Know the 3 branches of government established by the Constitution:
Legislative Branch – a two-house legislature, Congress, made up of a House of Representatives
and a Senate makes laws. Was created out of the Great Compromise initiated by Roger Sherman
Executive Branch – creates the office of the president and carries out laws
Judicial Branch - establishes a court system headed by the Supreme Court that deals with those
who break laws and with disagreements about laws
Not one of these three branches are any more important than any other is: each is kept from being too powerful by a system of checks and balances
A Bill of Rights was later added to the Constitution. These are the first 10 amendments, which include:
Amendment 1: Freedom of religion, speech, and the press. Right to gather peaceable and ask
the government for help
Amendment 4: Protection from "unreasonable searches and seizures."
Amendment 5: Right to trial by jury, due process, and protection against testifying against
yourself (self-incrimination)
Amendment 6: Right to speedy trial, to know why arrested
Amendment 7: Right to trial by jury
Amendment 8: Protection against cruel and unusual punishment
It wasn’t until 1865 (Amendment 13) when slavery was abolished, 1870 (Amendment 15) gave all men of race and color the right to vote, and 1920 (Amendment 19) before women could vote.