1. Why were the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
B) To prevent the government from taking away personal rights
The Bill of Rights, a charter consisting of 10 amendments, was added to establish limitations on governmental power and protect basic liberties of people such as the freedom of religion, and of press, the right to enjoy a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury in criminal prosecutions, the right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in one's homes and the right to have reserved powers, among others.
2. What did the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise do in our Constitution?
B) Allowed for a two house congress: one based on 2 delegates from each state; the other, number of delegates based on population from each state
The Great Compromise (1787) was an agreement reached between the small and large states of the U.S. to create two chambers within the legislative branch: the <u>Senate</u>, consisting of two representatives of each of the states, regardless of the state's population, and the <u>House of Representatives</u> whose number of delegates should be based on each state’s population.
3. What is the definition of the term checks and balances ?
B) A system under which each of the three branches of government limits the powers of the other two branches
The system of checks and balances is the system whereby all three branches of the government can oversee, limit and check the other so no part abuse from its powers and a balance in the government exists. Through this principle, each branch can respond to the action of the other. For example, under the system, The legislative branch can make bills but still needs Presidential approval to make laws.
4. Which of the following was NOT a precedent set by President George Washington?
B) Created the political party system
While options A, C, and D were all precedents set by the first president of the United States, George Washington, option B is not. In fact, Washington was against the formation of political parties because he feared that it would lead to conflicts and stagnation of the U.S. The political party system emerged during the ratification of the Constitution and featured the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party.
