ap gov chap 2&3 vocab Flashcards
A document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government
Constitution
A government ruled by representatives of the people
Republic
A governing document that created a union of 13 sovereign states in which the states not the union were supreme
Articles of confederation and perpetual union
A one house legislature
Unicameral
A popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts
Shays rebellion
A meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the articles of confederation
Constitutional convention
The rate of people detained by the government to know the charges against them
Writ of habeas corpus
When the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial
Bill of attainder
A law punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed
Ex post facto laws
A plan of government calling for three branch government with a bicameral legislator, where more populous states would have more representation in congress
Virginia plan
On a plan of government that provided a unicameral legislator with equal votes for each state
New Jersey plan
A committee at the constitutional convention that worked out the compromise on representation
Grand committee
An agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both Virginia and New Jersey plans, and settled issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislator with the house of representatives apportioned, proportionately, and the Senate a portion equally
Great Connecticut compromise
A two house legislature
Bicameral
An agreement reached by delegates at the constitutional convention that a slave would count as 3/5 of a person in calculating a states representation
3/5 compromise
Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808
Compromise on importation
A design of a government that distributes powers across institutions, in order to avoid making one branch to powerful on its own
Separation of powers
A design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy
Checks and balances
The sharing of power between the national government and the states
Federalism
The institution responsible for making laws
Legislative branch
Authorities specifically granted to a branch of the government in the constitution
Expressed or enumerated powers
Language in article 1 section 8 granting Congress, the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers
Necessary and proper elastic clause
Authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers powers, not granted specifically to the national government, but consider necessary to carry out the enumerated powers
Implied powers
The institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch
Executive branch
The institution responsible for hearing, and deciding cases through federal courts
Judicial branch
Constitutional provision declaring that the constitution, and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land
Supremacy clause
A constitutional provision for a process by which changes may be made to the constitution
Amendment
Supporter of the proposed constitution, and who called for a strong national government
Federalists
A person opposed to the proposed constitution who favored stronger state governments
Anti-federalist
A series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, and publish between 1787 and 1788 the layout the theory behind the constitution
Federalist papers
An essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny
Federalist number 51
A group of self interested people
Faction
An essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and a republican government
Federalist number 10
An anti-federalist paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic, and that the constitution gave too much power to the national government
Brutus number one
