POLS 1101 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
Articles of Confederation - Answers The first U.S. constitution that created a weak national
government dominated by the states
Confederacy - Answers A system of government where states retain most power and the central
government is weak
Unicameral legislature - Answers A legislature with one chamber
Great and radical vice - Answers The lack of national authority over individuals under the Articles of
Confederation
Constitutional Convention - Answers The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where the Constitution was
written
Philadelphia Convention - Answers Another name for the Constitutional Convention
Original Constitution - Answers The Constitution as ratified in 1788 before later amendments
Bill of Rights - Answers The first ten amendments protecting individual liberties
Founders' Constitution - Answers The original constitutional framework before Reconstruction
Great Compromise - Answers Created a bicameral legislature with population-based and equal
representation
Virginia Plan - Answers A plan favoring large states with representation based on population
Large State Plan - Answers Another name for the Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan - Answers A plan favoring small states with equal representation
Small State Plan - Answers Another name for the New Jersey Plan
Three-Fifths Compromise - Answers Counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for
representation and taxation
Electoral College - Answers A system that indirectly elects the president
Slave Trade Clause - Answers Prohibited Congress from banning the slave trade before 1808
Fugitive Slave Clause - Answers Required escaped enslaved people to be returned to enslavers
Federalism - Answers A system where power is shared between national and state governments
Popular sovereignty - Answers The principle that government authority comes from the people
Direct democracy - Answers A system where citizens vote directly on laws
Representative democracy - Answers A system where citizens elect representatives to govern
Bicameralism - Answers A legislature with two chambers
Separation of powers - Answers Division of government power among legislative, executive, and
judicial branches
Checks and balances - Answers A system allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others
Civil liberties - Answers Individual rights protected from government interference
Supremacy Clause - Answers Establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law
Federalist Papers - Answers Essays written to support ratification of the Constitution
Federalists - Answers Supporters of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists - Answers Opponents of the Constitution who feared a strong national government
Reconstruction Amendments - Answers The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments passed after the Civil
War
Birthright citizenship - Answers Citizenship granted to anyone born in the United States
Second Founding - Answers The transformation of the Constitution during Reconstruction
Unitary national government - Answers A system where all power is held by the national government
Concurrent powers - Answers Powers shared by federal and state governments
Reserved powers - Answers Powers reserved to the states
Laboratories of democracy - Answers The idea that states can experiment with new policies
Race to the bottom - Answers Competition among states that lowers standards
Enumerated powers - Answers Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution
Implied powers - Answers Powers inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause
Judicial review - Answers The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Tenth Amendment - Answers Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states
Necessary and Proper Clause - Answers Allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its
enumerated powers
Amendment-enforcing provisions - Answers Clauses giving Congress power to enforce amendments
Police power - Answers State authority to regulate health, safety, morals, and welfare
Articles of Confederation - Answers The first U.S. constitution that created a weak national
government dominated by the states
Confederacy - Answers A system of government where states retain most power and the central
government is weak
Unicameral legislature - Answers A legislature with one chamber
Great and radical vice - Answers The lack of national authority over individuals under the Articles of
Confederation
Constitutional Convention - Answers The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where the Constitution was
written
Philadelphia Convention - Answers Another name for the Constitutional Convention
Original Constitution - Answers The Constitution as ratified in 1788 before later amendments
Bill of Rights - Answers The first ten amendments protecting individual liberties
Founders' Constitution - Answers The original constitutional framework before Reconstruction
Great Compromise - Answers Created a bicameral legislature with population-based and equal
representation
Virginia Plan - Answers A plan favoring large states with representation based on population
Large State Plan - Answers Another name for the Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan - Answers A plan favoring small states with equal representation
Small State Plan - Answers Another name for the New Jersey Plan
Three-Fifths Compromise - Answers Counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for
representation and taxation
Electoral College - Answers A system that indirectly elects the president
Slave Trade Clause - Answers Prohibited Congress from banning the slave trade before 1808
Fugitive Slave Clause - Answers Required escaped enslaved people to be returned to enslavers
Federalism - Answers A system where power is shared between national and state governments
Popular sovereignty - Answers The principle that government authority comes from the people
Direct democracy - Answers A system where citizens vote directly on laws
Representative democracy - Answers A system where citizens elect representatives to govern
Bicameralism - Answers A legislature with two chambers
Separation of powers - Answers Division of government power among legislative, executive, and
judicial branches
Checks and balances - Answers A system allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others
Civil liberties - Answers Individual rights protected from government interference
Supremacy Clause - Answers Establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law
Federalist Papers - Answers Essays written to support ratification of the Constitution
Federalists - Answers Supporters of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists - Answers Opponents of the Constitution who feared a strong national government
Reconstruction Amendments - Answers The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments passed after the Civil
War
Birthright citizenship - Answers Citizenship granted to anyone born in the United States
Second Founding - Answers The transformation of the Constitution during Reconstruction
Unitary national government - Answers A system where all power is held by the national government
Concurrent powers - Answers Powers shared by federal and state governments
Reserved powers - Answers Powers reserved to the states
Laboratories of democracy - Answers The idea that states can experiment with new policies
Race to the bottom - Answers Competition among states that lowers standards
Enumerated powers - Answers Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution
Implied powers - Answers Powers inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause
Judicial review - Answers The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Tenth Amendment - Answers Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states
Necessary and Proper Clause - Answers Allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its
enumerated powers
Amendment-enforcing provisions - Answers Clauses giving Congress power to enforce amendments
Police power - Answers State authority to regulate health, safety, morals, and welfare
