1B Vocab

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781, and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789

Question 2

Federalist No. 10

Answer 2

Essay written by James Madison arguing for ratification of the Constitution, dealt with the issue of factions and how best to control them

Question 3

Brutus No. 1

Answer 3

First in a series of essays designed to encourage New Yorkers to reject the proposed Constitution, counter to the Federalist papers

Question 4

Faction

Answer 4

A group of individuals within a larger entity, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group, or simply a political climate, united by a particular common political purpose that differs in some respect to the rest of the entity

Question 5

Shays’ Rebellion

Answer 5

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Question 6

The Constitution

Answer 6

Supreme law of the US after it replaced the Articles of Confederation, consists of a preamble, seven articles, and amendments

Question 7

Bicameralism

Answer 7

The principle of a two-house legislature

Question 8

Virginia Plan

Answer 8

Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states

Question 9

New Jersey Plan

Answer 9

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single house legislature in which each state would be represented equally

Question 10

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Answer 10

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators

Question 11

Three-fifths Compromise

Answer 11

Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives

Question 12

Electoral College

Answer 12

The electoral system used in electing the president and Vice President, in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for a particular party’s candidate

Question 13

Federalists

Answer 13

Supports of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government

Question 14

Antifederalists

Answer 14

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally

Question 15

The Federalist

Answer 15

Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution, published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in 1787 and 1788

Question 16

Separation of powers

Answer 16

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making the law, the executive branch applying and enforcing the law, and the judicial branch interpreting the law

Question 17

Checks and balances

Answer 17

Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate

Question 18

Judicial review

Answer 18

The power of a court to review laws or government regulations to determine whether they are consistent with the US Constitution, or in a state court, the state constitution

Question 19

Congressional elaboration

Answer 19

Congressional legislation that gives further meaning to the Constitution based on sometimes vague constitutional authority, such as the necessary and proper clause

Question 20

Executive order

Answer 20

Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law

Question 21

Constitutional Convention

Answer 21

The convention in Philadelphia, May 25 to September 17, 1787, that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States

Question 22

Originalist approach

Answer 22

An approach to constitutional interpretation that envisions the document as having a fixed meaning that might be determined by a strict reading of the text or the Framers’ intent

Question 23

Adaptive approach

Answer 23

An approach to constitutional interpretation that understands the document to be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the times

Question 24

Partisanship

Answer 24

Strong allegiance to one’s own political party, often leading to unwillingness to compromise with members of the opposing party

Question 25

Divided government

Answer 25

Governance divided between the parties, especially when one controls the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress

Question 26

Unified government

Answer 26

Governance in which one party controls both the presidency and both houses of Congress

Question 27

Autocracy

Answer 27

A type of government in which one person with unlimited power rules