PLS 100 Exam 1 Review Sheet
I. Constitution (Chapter 2)
What does a constitution restrict?
The Power of the King
Why is the Magna Carta important?
First constitution to restrict English king’s power
What is a King?
Holds absolute authority, diving right of god
Difference between civil, criminal law, and constitutional law.
Civil laws deal with
commoners and money compensation, Criminal laws deal with laws that damage a
person or their property (above civil law), Const. Law is the supreme law, our rights as
citizen (above the king)
What is the difference between the three government types: monarchies, aristocracies and
Monarchy is a rule by 1 or a king, aristocracies ruled by a few and usually
rich, democracy is the rule by many (representative or direct)
What is a representative democracy?
The people elect reps to vote for them, reflect the
ideals of the person
Which country has the oldest written constitution?
How did George Washington feel about the constitution?
Didn’t think it was gonna fucking
work or only last for 20 years
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Complaints against the king and desire to own
our own property
What type of government was created under the articles of confederation?
What was a major problem with this type of government?
Fed couldn’t tax or raise military,
states largely did their own thing
What were 3 problems cited in lecture that prompted the elites to seek a new constitution?
Shay’s rebellion lack of troops, bickering between states and taxes, everyone coining
their own money
Who were the minority and who were the majority?
The minority were the rich landowners
and the minority were the poor laborers.
What type of government did the minority want?
Protect the wealthy interests against the
What are three things the founders did in terms of the king, religion and private property?
didn’t want a king, freedom of religion and separation of church and state, and the right
to own private property
What is representation?
The relation between pop. And # of state reps
What were the differences between the Virginia plan, New Jersey plan and the Connecticut
Virginia plan favored large states based on pop., New Jersey favored small
states everyone has equal rep, Connecticut proposed bicameral house based on pop
and equal rep
In the original constitution which branches of government (President, Senate, House of
Representative) were popularly elected?
All except senate
What powers were given to Congress to regulate commerce?
Congress granted right to
regulate interstate commerce
How did the founders handle the slavery issue?
Congress couldn’t pass any laws on
slavery until 1808 and created 3/5 compromise
What was the 3/5 compromise?
Slaves counted as 3/5 a person for tax and rep purposes
What is commerce?
The trade, business, and exchange of currency
What was specified about religion in the original constitution?
No religious affiliation is