Circumstances favourable to the union of the colonies. The New England Confederacy (1643-84). Albany Congress (1754); Stamp Act Congress (1765); Committees of Correspondence (1772-75). The Continental Congress (1774-89). The several states were never at any time sovereign states. The Articles of Confederation. Nature and powers of the Continental Congress. It could not impose taxes, and therefore was not fully endowed with sovereignty. Decline of the Continental Congress. Weakness of the sentiment of union; anarchical tendencies. The Federal Convention (1787). QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT. Section 2. _The Federal Congress_. The House of Representatives. The three fifths compromise. The Connecticut compromise. The Senate. Electoral districts; the "Gerrymander". The election at large. Time of assembling. Privileges of members. The Speaker. Impeachment in England; in the United States. The president's veto power. QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT. Section 3. _The Federal Executive_. The title of "President". The electoral college. The twelfth amendment. The electoral commission (1877). Provisions against a lapse of the presidency. Original purpose of the electoral college not fulfilled Electors formerly chosen in many states by districts; now always on a general ticket "Minority presidents" Advantages of the electoral system Nomination of candidates by congressional caucus (1800-24) Nominating conventions; the "primary"; the district convention; the national convention Qualifications for the presidency; the term of office Powers and duties of the president The president's message Executive departments; the cabinet The secretary of state Diplomatic and consular service The secretary of the treasury The other departments QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT Section 4. _The Nation and the States._ Difference between confederation and federal union Powers granted to Congress The "Elastic Clause" Powers denied to the states Evils of an inconvertible paper currency Powers denied to Congress Bills of attainder Intercitizenship; mode of mating amendments QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT Section 5. _The Federal Judiciary._ Need for a federal judiciary Federal courts and judges District attorneys and marshals The federal jurisdiction QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT Section 6. _Territorial Government._ The Northwest Territory and the Ordinance of 1787 Other territories and their government QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT Section 7. _Ratification and Amendments_. Provisions for ratification Concessions to slavery Demand for a bill of rights The first ten amendments QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT Section 8. _A Few Words about Politics_. Federal taxation Hamilton's policy; excise; tariff Origin of American political parties; strict and loose construction of the Elastic Clause Tariff, Internal Improvements, and National Bank. Civil Service reform Origin of the "spoils system" in the state polities of New Tort and Pennsylvania "Rotation in office;" the Crawford Act