AP Gov ch.2 Mariana Sanchez-Monke Flashcards
Alexander Hamilton
A key framer who envisioned a powerful central government , co-authored the Federalist Papers, and served as the first secretary of the Treasury
Anti-Federalist
Those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government; opposed ratification of the U.S constitution.
Article I
Legislative Branch - Organizations, powers, and restraints
Article II
Executive Branch - Powers, duties, restraints, and election of the President
Article III
Judicial Branch - Powers, restraints, and the definition of Treason
Article IV
Mandates the states honor of the laws and judicial proceedings of other states. Includes the mechanisms for admitting new states to the union.`
Article V
Specifies how amendments can be added to the constitution
Article VI
Contains the supremacy clause, which asserts the basic primacy of the constitution and national law over state laws and constitutions.
Articles of Confederation
A written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states
Benjamin Franklin
A brilliant inventor and senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention who urged colonial unity as early as 1754, twenty-two years before the Declaration of Independence
Bill of Rights
first ten amendments to the U.S Constitution, which largely guarantee specific rights and liberties
Checks and Balances
the three branches of government of some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that challenged the authority of the British government to govern the colonies
Constitution
A document establishing the structure, functions and limitations of a government
Constitutional Convention
The meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that was first intended to revise the Articles of Confederation but produced an entirely new document, the U.S Constitution
Crispus Attucks
An African American and first American to die in what became known as the Boston Massacre in 1770
Critical Period
The chaotic period from 1781 to 1789 after the American Revolution during which the former colonies were governed under the Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence
Document drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that proclaimed the right of the American colonies to separate from Great Britain
Electoral College
The system established by the Constitution through which the president is chosen by electors from each state, which has many electoral votes as it has members of Congress
Enumerated Powers
The powers of the national government specifically grated to Congress in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution
Federalism
The distribution of constitutional authority between state government and the national government, with different powers and functions exercised by both
Federalists
Those who favored a stronger national government and supported the proposed U.S. Constitution; later became the first U.S. political part
The Federalist Papers
A series of eighty-five political essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the U.S Constitution
First Confidential Congress
Meeting held in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in which fifth-six delegates (from every colony except Georgia) adopted a restitution in opposition to the Coercive Acts
French and Indian War
The American phase of what was called the Seven Years War, fought from 1754 to 1763 between Britain and France with Indian allies
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Section of Article IV of the Constitution that ensures judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in any other states
George Washington
Considered the father of the nation, was commander of the revolutionary armies; served as the presiding officer of the constitutional convention
Great Compromise
Final decision of Constitutional Convention to create a two-house-legislature, with the lower house elected by the people and powers divided between the two houses; also made national law supreme
Implied Powers
Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution
Inherent Powers
The powers of the national government in the field of affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government.
James Madison
Father of the constitution; leading federalist; author of the Bill of Rights
John Jay
A member of the founding generation who was the first Chief Justice of the U.S; diplomat and father of the Federalist Papers
Lexington and Concord
The first sites of armed conflict between revolutionaries and British soldiers, remembered for the “shot heard round the world” in 1775
Mercantilism
An economic theory designed to increase a nations wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade.
Montesquieu
The French baron and political theorist who first articulated the concept of separation of powers with checks and balances.
Necessary and Proper Clause
Final par. of Article I, section 8,; gives Congress authority to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers specified in Constitution
New Jersey Plan
Plan to amend the Articles of Confederation; it maintained equal representation of the states
New World
The Western Hemisphere of Earth, also called the Americas; unknown to European before 1492
political culture
Commonly shared attitudes, behaviors, and core values about how government should operate
Samuel Adams
Cousin of president John Adams and leader against the British and loyalist oppressors: key role in developing the Committees of Correspondence
Second Continental Congress
Meeting that convened Philadelphia on May 10,1775; decided that an army should be raised and George Washington of Virginia was named commander in chief
separation of powers
The splitting of political powers between different branches of government and different levels of government
shays rebellion
Showed weakness of the government, was led by Daniel Shays it was a protest against the land being taken away and the taxes that they had just worked so hard to get rid of
social contract theory
The belief that governments exist based on the consent of the governed
sons and daughters of liberty
Loosely organized groups of patriotic American colonists who were early revolutionaries
stamp act Congress
Gathering of nine colonial reps. where a detailed list of Crown violations was drafted.First oficial step toward creating a unified nation
supremacy clause
Mandating national law is Supreme over all other laws passed by the states or by any other subdivision of government
Thomas Jefferson
Principle drafter of the Declaration of Independence; second vice pres. of the U.S; third pres. of U.S from 1801-1809; Co-founder of the Democratic Republican Party
Thomas Paine
Influential writer of Common Sense, a pamphlet that advocated for independence from Great Britain
three fifths compromise:
Agreement reacted at the constitutional Convention stipulating that three-fifths of the total slave population of each state was to be for purposes of determining population for representation in the U.S
Virginia plan
A proposed framework for the constitution favoring large states; called for a bicameral legislature to appoint executive and judicial officers
