The Constitution: Study Questions

1) What are the three branches of government and what are the powers of each? The three branches of government are the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial. The Executive branch is basically the President of the United States, whose powers are directing the government, commanding the armed forces, dealing with foreign powers, and vetoing laws. The Legislative branch is the Congress. The powers include passing laws, originating spending bills (House), impeaching officials (Senate), and approving treaties (Senate). The Judicial branch is our justice system which is headed by the Supreme Court. Its powers are interpreting the Constitution, reviewing laws, and deciding states' rights.
2) How can these branches check and balance each other? The Executive branch can check the Legislative by vetoing laws or other decisions made. The Legislative can check the Executive right back by overriding the veto. The Judicial is the giant law enforcement system who can govern the other two branches, but is also subject to laws made by them.
3) What were the compromises to the constitution? The method of electing a president, slavery (3/5 rule), and representation in the Congress.
4) Who wrote the Federalist papers? Hamilton and Madison.
5) What was the Bill of Rights? Why did some states demand its inclusion before they ratified the constitution? The Bill of Rights was a document that guaranteed certain rights to the American people, to every American person. The idea was that these rights would make it so there couldn't be a dictatorship or a tyranny and that the rights couldn't be taken away. Some states demanded its inclusion so there wouldn't become too strong a central government without the input of the people.
6) What were the anti-federalists main fears about the constitution? They feared that (especially without the Bill of Rights) there would be too strong a central government formed. They feared that they would live under tyranny as they had in England. They feared they would have no input into the running of their own country.