POLI 330 Week 1 Edapt_Constitutionalism and Foundations of American Democracy Constitution

Individual rights guarantee that citizens have certain freedoms and protections from government infringement. POLI 330 – week 1 edapts Which of the following statements accurately describes key principles of the U.S. Constitution? Federalism is the distribution of power between the national and state governments. Popular sovereignty ensures that the government derives its power from the consent of the governed. Foundations of the American Political System: A Federal The American political system is rooted in a blend of philosophical ideals, colonial experiences, practical challenges to governance, and debates over government's proper scope and nature. Four key documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers Seven U.S. Founders, as identified by historian Robert B. Morris, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. The Declaration of Independence (1776), written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, reflects Enlightenment ideas and outlines the philosophical justification for the colonies’ break from British rule. Why were the Articles of Confederation considered inadequate? They did not grant the national government the power to tax or regulate commerce. ***The Federalist Papers made the case for a stronger central government capable of addressing the issues that the Articles of Confederation could not, such as maintaining national defense, The rule of law means that everyone, including government officials, is subject to the law. Separation of powers divides government responsibilities among different branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. POLI 330 – week 1 edapts The works of three Founders to persuade opponents to adopt the Constitution are collectively known as the Federalist Papers the Federalist Papers were aimed at explaining why the new Constitution was a better framework for the country than the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate. The Federalist Papers were designed not only to inform the public but also to shape opinion by offering a reasoned defense of the Constitution. How many states needed to ratify the document in order for the new constitution to take effect? Under the Articles of Confederation, 9 states had to approve the new Constitution in order for it to be approved. The Connecticut Compromise is called the GREAT Compromise because it solved the problem of representation by creating a bicameral legislature. Under the Articles of Confederation the government had no judiciary branch. The United States Branches of Government 3 Branches of U.S. Government Constitution provided a separation of powers • Legislative (makes laws) • Congress • Senate • House of Representatives • Executive (carries out laws) • President • Vice President • Cabinet • Judicial (interprets laws) • Supreme Court • Other Federal Courts In the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, in an effort to form a more perfect union, which value is listed first? POLI 330 – week 1 edapts • The term for House members is two years, while Senators serve for six years. All Congressional members can seek indefinite re-election. • The Executive Branch, outlined by Article II of the