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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
An amendment to the Constitution must pass by what minimum margins?
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A 2/3 majority in the House and Senate and adoption by at least 3/4 of the states - a signature by the president is not required.
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When the Constitution was first ratified, how were U.S. Senators elected?
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Senators were chosen by a vote of the legislators at each state's capital.
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The U.S. Constitution creates what kind of government?
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a republic (representative democracy)
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The Constitution requires Congress to be assembled how often?
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at least once each year
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The relationship - the distribution of power - between the national government and the states is called
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federalism
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Laws which require people to forfeit their freedom, their rights or their property - without a trial - are called bills of ___?___ .
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attainder
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Laws which take effect before they are passed by a legislature are called
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ex post facto laws.
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As designed by the Constitution, presidents are directly elected by which group of people?
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the Electoral College
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The Constitution allows the president to make treaties and agreements with foreign powers, provided that 2/3 of the ___?___ agrees.
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Senate
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True or False?
The Constitution has always granted Congress the power to regulate trade between the states (called interstate trade). |
True. The Constitution also says - in the same sentence - that Congress can regulate trade with foreign nations, and "among the Indian tribes..."
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Under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the President and Vice President die suddenly, which official becomes President?
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the Speaker of the House
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If the Electoral College cannot choose a President (it takes a majority vote), which group of people then picks the President?
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the House of Representatives
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If the Electoral College cannot choose a Vice President (it takes a majority vote), which group of people then picks the Vice President?
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the Senate
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According to the Constitution, who has the right to be leader of that part of the military employed in the service of the United States?
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the President
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the head of the U.S. Supreme Court is called the
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Chief Justice
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In the United States, what is the "supreme law of the land"?
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the U.S. Constitution
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True or False?
Under the Constitution of the U.S., state governments are allowed to pass laws that are completely against the Constitution or federal laws. |
False. The national government and Constitution is "supreme" over the state governments and state constitutions, so state laws cannot violate the U.S. Constitution or laws passed by Congress.
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What part of the U.S. Constitution protects people's freedom of speech, their rights when accused of a crime, and prohibits torture?
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the Bill of Rights
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The Bill of Rights includes how many constitutional amendments?
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It is the first 10 amendments
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The only official duty, or job, of the Vice President is to be the presiding official in the
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Senate
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How many U.S. Senators are elected from each state?
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2 Senators
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How is the number of Representatives from each state determined?
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by the population of each state - as determined by the census every ten years
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Each state is guaranteed a certain (minimum) number of votes in the Electoral College. What is that number?
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3 electoral votes is the minimum number per state
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True or False?
The main idea of the Preamble to the Constitution can be summed up as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." |
False. The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is a quote from the Declaration of Independence.
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Who in the United States government has the power to declare war on another country?
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Congress
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Who is often called the Father of the Constitution?
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James Madison
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Why is James Madison often called the Father of the Constitution?
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He came to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia prepared with numerous ideas, suggestions, and plans - far more than others had planned for.
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The officer who presides over the Senate when the Vice-President in not in attendance is called the
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president pro tempore - he or she is the temporary presiding officer
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If the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House all died suddenly, what official would become President of the U.S.?
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The President Pro Tempore of the Senate becomes President in the line of succession.
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Who has the sole power to impeach officials of the federal government?
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the House of Representatives
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The writ of ___?___ prevents people being held in prison indefinitely without being accused of a crime.
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habeas corpus
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The Sixteenth Amendment changed the Constitution by making what kind of taxes possible?
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income taxes
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The executive branch's power to refuse to sign a bill into law is called a presidential
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veto
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Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes which branch of the government?
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the executive branch
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The term meaning the President is head of all American armed forces is
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commander-in-chief
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In the line of presidential succession, the person who is next in line after the President Pro Tempore is the
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Secretary of State
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Treaties with other nations must be approved by what "fraction" of a vote in the Senate?
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a 2/3 vote
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What clause in the Constitution guarantees that marriages, divorces, wills, and legal contracts made in one state are legal in another?
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The Full Faith and Credit Clause
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How long does a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court remain a member of the Court?
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for life, as long as they maintain good behavior
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True or False?
All judges of the U.S. federal judicial branch can be impeached by the House of Representatives for bribery or other "high crimes and misdemeanors." |
True
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Members of the President's Cabinet are appointed by the President with the "advice and consent" of the
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Senate
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The authority of the Supreme Court or any court to be the first to hear certain cases.is called ___?___ jurisdiction.
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original jurisdiction
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The power of the Supreme Court to judge the constitutionality of an action by the executive or legislative branches is called judicial ___?___ .
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judicial review
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The Fifth Amendment guarantees these rights during legal proceedings.
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due process, or due process of law - that the laws, and the process by which they are carried out, are fair to all
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After a federal officeholder is impeached, this group has the sole power to try the case (to hold a trial).
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the Senate
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The Second Amendment provides for the right to bear arms and “a well regulated”
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militia - today's National Guard
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The Establishment Clause is located where and deals with what?
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located in the 1st Amendment, deals with religious freedom (prohibits government from establishing an official religion or setting up religious practices)
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The Congress can grant these protections of intellectual property.
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copyrights and/or patents
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Government’s right to take away private property with just compensation is called
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eminent domain
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What qualifications did the Constitution ratified in 1787 impose for voting?
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None - it left voting requirements up to the states.
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A court order allowing an individual or his property to be searched or seized is called a(n)
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warrant
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Which amendment guarantees freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and the right to protest against the government?
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1st Amendment
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Every two years, what fraction of the U.S. Senate seats go up for election?
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1/3 of the seats
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True or False?
According to the Constitution, rules for naturalization and citizenship are made by the states. |
False
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The Constitution requires the Senate and House of Representatives to have at least a simple majority of the members present in order to do official business. This simple majority is referred to as a
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quorum
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Bills that propose taxes or government spending must start in the
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House of Representatives
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The longest possible time a person could now serve as President is how many years?
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Ten years
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In order to be elected to the presidency, a person must have lived in the U.S. at least how many years?
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14 years
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True or False?
Nobody holding a United States office shall ever have to pass a religious test. |
True
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Invoking the Fifth Amendment means that an accused person
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refuses to testify against himself/herself.
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The major department head who is appointed by the President to deal with foreign countries is the
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Secretary of State
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Amendment 17 of the Constitution changed the election of Senators from state legislators to whom?
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the people
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Congress can pass laws over the President's veto if both Houses vote in a super-majority of at least (what fraction?).
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two-thirds
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After a bill has been sent to the President, it becomes a law if he does not send it back within ___?___ days.
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ten days
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True or False?
Federalism refers to the relationship between the national government and the states. |
True
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True or False?
The number of presidential electors a state gets is the same as the total number of its Senators and Representatives. |
True
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At precisely noon on what month and day does the 20th Amendment say a president's term of office begins?
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January 20th
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True or False?
The Constitution allows Congress to lay a tax on goods sent from one state to another. |
False
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The Speaker of the House of Representatives is chosen during a vote by the
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membership of the House of Representatives
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EXTRA CREDIT!
He was Vice President during the Bill Clinton administration. Who was he? (last name) |
Vice President Al GORE
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He was Vice President during both terms of the George W. Bush administration. Who was he? (last name)
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Vice President Dick Cheney
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EXTRA CREDIT!
He is the supposed "front-runner" in the current race for the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2012. Who is he? (last name) |
Mitt ROMNEY
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Robert Gates. His job is to offer national defense policymaking advice to President Obama and to implement those policies that are adopted by the President. What is the title of his position in the U.S. Government? |
Robvert Gates is Secretary of Defense
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EXTRA CREDIT!
Hillary Clinton's job is to offer advice to the President regarding U.S. relations with other nations, and to implement those policies he adopts. What is the title of her position in the U.S. Government? |
Hillary Clinton is Secretary of State
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This man represents people who live in Missouri's Sixth Congressional District, has been a member of the House of Representatives since January 3, 2001. Who is he? (last name) |
Sam Graves represents the 6th Congressional District - including residents of Clay County.
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This is the Governor of Missouri. He was elected in 2008, and is expected to run for re-election in 2012. Who is he? (last name) |
Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon is Governor of Missouri
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Mark Funkhouser. What elective position does he now hold in Missouri? |
Mark Funkhouser is the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Dan Quayle. He was Vice President during which president's first - and only - term of office? |
Quayle was Vice President during the first Bush administration - President George H.W. Bush.
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This is John Boehner. He gets emotional, often in public. What is his current job in the U.S. government? |
Boehner is a Representative from Ohio, and is the current Speaker of the House
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Vice President George H.W. Bush. During which President's two terms of office was he vice president? |
Ronald Reagan
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EXTRA CREDIT!
Eric Cantor, Representative from Virginia's 7th District, is now the #2 most powerful Republican leader in the House. What is his job title? |
Representative Cantor is now the House Majority Leader
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EXTRA CREDIT!
Nancy Pelosi is no longer Speaker of the House, but remains #1 most powerful Democratic Party leader, there. What is her current job title? |
Representative Pelosi is now the Minority Leader in the House
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EXTRA CREDIT!
In what year was the U.S. Constitution written? |
1787
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EXTRA CREDIT!
In what year was the U.S. Constitution ratified? |
1788
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EXTRA CREDIT!
This is John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush to the Supreme Court. He is the head of the court. What is his job title? |
Supreme Court Chief Justice
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At the Constitutional Convention this compromise between northern states and southern states led to this: slaves could be counted for taxes as well as for representation in Congress
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the Three-Fifths Compromise
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By September of 1787, this group of political leaders led the argument against ratifying the newly-signed Constitution.
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the Anti-Federalists
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By September of 1787, this group of political leaders led the argument in favor of ratifying the newly-signed Constitution.
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the Federalists
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This powerful politician from New York state was the leader of the Federalists and one of the three authors of The Federalist Papers.
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Alexander Hamilton
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This compromise at the Constitutional Convention led the delegates to agree to a bicameral national legislature - the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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the Great Compromise, sometimes called the Connecticut Compromise
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A compromise between the northern and southern states led to the prohibition of WHAT, by 1808?
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the prohibition of importing more slaves from outside the U.S. after 1808
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This Article of the Constitution created the Executive Branch of the national government
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Article Two
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This Article of the Constitution created the Legislative Branch of the national government
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Article One
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This Article of the Constitution created the Judicial Branch of the national government
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Article Three
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These members of the Congress are elected to a six-year term of office
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Senators
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This collection of essays written anonymously by three prominent politians of the period, and published in newspapers, supported the ratification of the newly-written Constitution
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the Federalist, or Federalist Papers
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The Constitution requires that Congress do this every ten years after a census is taken
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reapportionment of the seats in the House of Representatives
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After the Congress reapportions the seats among the states every ten years, Missouri's state lawmakers have to do this if the state gains or loses members of the U.S. Congress
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state legislators redistrict the state's congressional districts to reflect a gain or a loss in the number of Representatives the state has in the U.S. House
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The term for dividing governmental powers between the national government and the states is called this
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federalism
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The term for pitting the three branches of government against each other, so that no one branch becomes super powerful, is called
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checks and balances
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