POS1041 TEST WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION
CHAPTER 3: THE CONSTITUTION (Read and study all of Chapter 3) - Answer
Understand the importance of constitutionalism and the significant documents that
influenced its evolution in the
United States. (pp 64-66) Key terms and concepts:
The Magna Carta (1215) * The Mayflower Compact (1620) * The Colonial Charters
(1624-1732) - Answer Constitutionalism - a government of laws, not people, operating on
the principle that governmental power must be limited and government officials should
be restrained in their exercise of power over individuals.
* The Magna Carta (1215) - English lords forced King John to sign this document
guaranteeing their feudal rights and setting the precedent of a limited government and
monarchy.
* The Mayflower Compact (1620) - agreement among Pilgrims colonists to establish a
government by contract among the governed.
* The Colonial Charters (1624-1732) - Documents granted by the English Monarch to
individuals, companies, and groups of settlers in the new American colonies,
authorizing a degree of self-government, setting the precedent of written contracts
defining governmental power
What were the Articles of Confederation? (pp 66-68) - Answer the original framework for
the government of the united States, adopted in 1781 and superseded by the U.S.
Constitution in 1789. It established a "firm league of friendship" among the states,
rather than a government "of the people"
What were the obstacles to nationhood and/or the major deficiencies of the Articles that
led to the Constitutional Convention? (pp 66-68) - Answer * Financial Difficulties - Under
the Articles, Congress had no power to tax people directly and instead had to ask for
money.
* Commercial Obstacles - Under the Articles, states were free to tax the goods of other
states.
* Currency Problems - the states themselves had the power to issue their own currency,
regulate its value, and require that it be accepted in payments of debts.
* Western Lands - America didn't have a strong central government with enough military
power to oust the British from the Northwest and to protect the western settlers against
Indian attacks, therefore leaving the West closed off for the development of the
,American West.
What was the significance of Shay's Rebellion? (pp 66-68) - Answer it was an armed
revolt in 1786, led by a Revolutionary War Officer Daniel Shays, protesting the
discontent of small farmers over debts and taxes, and raising concerns about the ability
of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation to maintain internal order
Know the common characteristics of the nation's founders. How many attended the
Constitutional Convention? (pp 68-69) - Answer 55 delegates attended the Convention
that were all truly nationalists
Who was elected president of the Convention? (pp 68-69) - Answer George Washington
Upon what principles were the Founders mostly in agreement? Key terms:
The Enlightenment * Natural Rights * Social Contract * Republicanism * Nationalism -
Answer * The Enlightenment - also known as the Age of Reason, a philosophical
movement in eighteenth-century Western thought based on a belief in reason and the
capacities of individuals, a faith in a scientific approach to knowledge, and a confidence
in human progress
* Natural Rights - the rights of all people derived from natural law and not bestowed by
governments, including the rights to life, liberty, and property
* Social Contract - the idea the governemnt originates from an implied contract among
people who agree to obey laws in exchange for the protection of their natural rights
* Republicanism - government by representatives of the people rather than directly by
the people themselves
* Nationalism - belief that shared cultural, historical, linguistic, and social
characteristics of a people justify the creation of a government encompassing all of
them and that the resulting nation-state should be independent and legally equal to all
other nation-states.
What were the major conflicts that divided the Founders at the Constitutional
Convention? Know and understand the
contours of the compromises that resolved these conflicts.
Key terms and concepts:
The Virginia Plan * The New Jersey Plan * The Connecticut Compromise * Three-Fifths
Compromise - Answer Representation, Slavery, and Voter Qualifications
What was the most controversial issue at the Constitutional
Convention? How was this issue resolved? - Answer Representation was the most
controversial issue.
, * The Virginia Plan proposed a two-house legislature, with the lower house directly
elected based on state population. Legislature with broad power, laws including veto
power over passed by the state legislatures. President and cabinet chosen by the
legislature. National judiciary elected by legislature. "Council of Revision" with power to
veto laws of the legislature.
* The New Jersey Plan proposed a one-house senate, with equal state representation,
regardless of population. Legislature with the same power as under the Articles, plus
the power to levy some taxes and to regulate commerce. Separate multiperson
executive, elected by the legislature, removable by petition from a majority of state
governors. National appointed by the executive. National Supremacy Clause similar to
that found in Article VI of the 1787 Constitution.
* The Connecticut Compromise proposed two-house legislature, with House directly
elected based on state population and the Senate selected by the state legislatures; two
senators per state, regardless of population. Legislature with broad power, including
the power to tax and to regulate commerce. President chosen by an Electoral College.
National judiciary appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. National
Supremacy Clause: the Constitution is "the supreme Law of the Land"
How did the Founders address the issues of slavery and voter qualifications? (pp 70-73)
- Answer * Slavery - Delegates from southern states, where slaves were a large part of
the population, believed slaves should be counted in representation afforded the states,
but not counted if taxes were to be levied on a population basis. Northern delegates with
a small slave population believed that "the people" counted for representation purposes
should only include free persons. The Connecticut Plan included the now famous
Three-Fifths Compromise: three fifths of the slaves of each state would be counted for
purposes both of representation in the House and for appointment of direct taxes
* Voter Qualifications - Most of the delegates believed that voters as well as office
holders should be men of property, but argued over the specific wording of property
qualifications. After much debate, the convention approved a constitution without any
expressed property qualifications for voting or holding office.
Know and understand the economic and security issues that were addressed at the
constitutional convention, and how these issues were resolved. (pp 73-77)
Key terms:
Taxes * Tariff * Common Market - Answer Levying Taxes, Regulating Commerce,
Protecting Money, Protecting National Security, War and the Military Forces, and
Commander in Chief
Understand the general powers afforded to Congress under the Constitution to levy
taxes, regulate commerce and protect money - Answer * Levy Taxes - Congress has the
power to lay and collect taxes. Tariffs are a tax imposed on imported products
* Regulate Commerce - gave Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign
SOLUTION
CHAPTER 3: THE CONSTITUTION (Read and study all of Chapter 3) - Answer
Understand the importance of constitutionalism and the significant documents that
influenced its evolution in the
United States. (pp 64-66) Key terms and concepts:
The Magna Carta (1215) * The Mayflower Compact (1620) * The Colonial Charters
(1624-1732) - Answer Constitutionalism - a government of laws, not people, operating on
the principle that governmental power must be limited and government officials should
be restrained in their exercise of power over individuals.
* The Magna Carta (1215) - English lords forced King John to sign this document
guaranteeing their feudal rights and setting the precedent of a limited government and
monarchy.
* The Mayflower Compact (1620) - agreement among Pilgrims colonists to establish a
government by contract among the governed.
* The Colonial Charters (1624-1732) - Documents granted by the English Monarch to
individuals, companies, and groups of settlers in the new American colonies,
authorizing a degree of self-government, setting the precedent of written contracts
defining governmental power
What were the Articles of Confederation? (pp 66-68) - Answer the original framework for
the government of the united States, adopted in 1781 and superseded by the U.S.
Constitution in 1789. It established a "firm league of friendship" among the states,
rather than a government "of the people"
What were the obstacles to nationhood and/or the major deficiencies of the Articles that
led to the Constitutional Convention? (pp 66-68) - Answer * Financial Difficulties - Under
the Articles, Congress had no power to tax people directly and instead had to ask for
money.
* Commercial Obstacles - Under the Articles, states were free to tax the goods of other
states.
* Currency Problems - the states themselves had the power to issue their own currency,
regulate its value, and require that it be accepted in payments of debts.
* Western Lands - America didn't have a strong central government with enough military
power to oust the British from the Northwest and to protect the western settlers against
Indian attacks, therefore leaving the West closed off for the development of the
,American West.
What was the significance of Shay's Rebellion? (pp 66-68) - Answer it was an armed
revolt in 1786, led by a Revolutionary War Officer Daniel Shays, protesting the
discontent of small farmers over debts and taxes, and raising concerns about the ability
of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation to maintain internal order
Know the common characteristics of the nation's founders. How many attended the
Constitutional Convention? (pp 68-69) - Answer 55 delegates attended the Convention
that were all truly nationalists
Who was elected president of the Convention? (pp 68-69) - Answer George Washington
Upon what principles were the Founders mostly in agreement? Key terms:
The Enlightenment * Natural Rights * Social Contract * Republicanism * Nationalism -
Answer * The Enlightenment - also known as the Age of Reason, a philosophical
movement in eighteenth-century Western thought based on a belief in reason and the
capacities of individuals, a faith in a scientific approach to knowledge, and a confidence
in human progress
* Natural Rights - the rights of all people derived from natural law and not bestowed by
governments, including the rights to life, liberty, and property
* Social Contract - the idea the governemnt originates from an implied contract among
people who agree to obey laws in exchange for the protection of their natural rights
* Republicanism - government by representatives of the people rather than directly by
the people themselves
* Nationalism - belief that shared cultural, historical, linguistic, and social
characteristics of a people justify the creation of a government encompassing all of
them and that the resulting nation-state should be independent and legally equal to all
other nation-states.
What were the major conflicts that divided the Founders at the Constitutional
Convention? Know and understand the
contours of the compromises that resolved these conflicts.
Key terms and concepts:
The Virginia Plan * The New Jersey Plan * The Connecticut Compromise * Three-Fifths
Compromise - Answer Representation, Slavery, and Voter Qualifications
What was the most controversial issue at the Constitutional
Convention? How was this issue resolved? - Answer Representation was the most
controversial issue.
, * The Virginia Plan proposed a two-house legislature, with the lower house directly
elected based on state population. Legislature with broad power, laws including veto
power over passed by the state legislatures. President and cabinet chosen by the
legislature. National judiciary elected by legislature. "Council of Revision" with power to
veto laws of the legislature.
* The New Jersey Plan proposed a one-house senate, with equal state representation,
regardless of population. Legislature with the same power as under the Articles, plus
the power to levy some taxes and to regulate commerce. Separate multiperson
executive, elected by the legislature, removable by petition from a majority of state
governors. National appointed by the executive. National Supremacy Clause similar to
that found in Article VI of the 1787 Constitution.
* The Connecticut Compromise proposed two-house legislature, with House directly
elected based on state population and the Senate selected by the state legislatures; two
senators per state, regardless of population. Legislature with broad power, including
the power to tax and to regulate commerce. President chosen by an Electoral College.
National judiciary appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. National
Supremacy Clause: the Constitution is "the supreme Law of the Land"
How did the Founders address the issues of slavery and voter qualifications? (pp 70-73)
- Answer * Slavery - Delegates from southern states, where slaves were a large part of
the population, believed slaves should be counted in representation afforded the states,
but not counted if taxes were to be levied on a population basis. Northern delegates with
a small slave population believed that "the people" counted for representation purposes
should only include free persons. The Connecticut Plan included the now famous
Three-Fifths Compromise: three fifths of the slaves of each state would be counted for
purposes both of representation in the House and for appointment of direct taxes
* Voter Qualifications - Most of the delegates believed that voters as well as office
holders should be men of property, but argued over the specific wording of property
qualifications. After much debate, the convention approved a constitution without any
expressed property qualifications for voting or holding office.
Know and understand the economic and security issues that were addressed at the
constitutional convention, and how these issues were resolved. (pp 73-77)
Key terms:
Taxes * Tariff * Common Market - Answer Levying Taxes, Regulating Commerce,
Protecting Money, Protecting National Security, War and the Military Forces, and
Commander in Chief
Understand the general powers afforded to Congress under the Constitution to levy
taxes, regulate commerce and protect money - Answer * Levy Taxes - Congress has the
power to lay and collect taxes. Tariffs are a tax imposed on imported products
* Regulate Commerce - gave Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign
