Tutor profile: Hannah H.

The United States Constitution as we know it, was preceded by a different governing document: what was that document? What are the key differences?

The United States Constitution was preceded by the Articles of Confederation. The first major difference between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation is that under the articles each state retained sovereignty where the Constitution requires each state surrendering certain powers to the central government. In addition, the Constitution included an interstate clause which allowed the government to deal with disputes in a better way than before. It is also important to note that the Articles of Confederation set up a unicameral body while the Constitution set up a bicameral legislative body.

What were the major challenges to reconstruction at the end of the American Civil War?

Among the major challenges to reconstruction were the ideological differences between the north and the south. These ideological differences include, but are not limited to, differing opinions on slavery, states' rights, and taxes. Another major challenge is the economic discrepancy between the north and the south following the war. The south's economy had been crippled by the war while the north was prospering and had little sympathy for it's counterparts. Finally, reconstruction was hurt by the attitudes that each side had developed toward the other while at war.

What are the core components of the criminal justice system? How do they interact with one another?

The criminal justice system in made up of three main components: police, courts, and corrections. The police are responsible for enforcing laws, investigating crimes, and providing emergency services. The courts are responsible for maintaining impartiality and fairness, determining guilt and innocence, and upholding the law. Finally, corrections are responsible for rehabilitating, reforming, and reintegrating offenders and providing humane conditions for offenders. Each branch requires the others to effectively operate and each branch has to be responsible for just their duties in order to keep the justice system running effectively and efficiently.