APGOVSUM18.David.Alvarez Flashcards
Alexander Hamilton
A United States statesman and leader of the Federalists
Anti-Federalists
individuals who opposed ratification of the Constitution
Article I
establishes the legislative branch of the federal government
Artical II
sets forth the definition and terms of the Executive Branch of Government in the United States
Artical III
establishes the judicial branch of the federal government.
Artical IV
ensures that states respect and honor the state laws and court orders of other states, even when their own laws are different.
Artical V
describes the process whereby the Constitution, the nation’s frame of government, may be altered
Artical VI
establishes the laws and treaties of the United States made in accordance with it as the supreme law of the land, forbids a religious test as a requirement for holding a governmental position
Articles of Confederation
The government charter of the states from 1776 until the Constitution of 1787.
Benjamin Franklin
a Founding Father of U.S. who had a significant and profound influence in the early development of his nation.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendant’s rights.
Checks and Balances
Features of the Constitution that limit government’s power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions. These institutions continually constrain one another’s activities.
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine. Argument for an independent United States.
Constitution
A nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Constitutions can either be written or unwritten.
Crispus Attucks
the first person killed in the Boston massacre and thus the first American killed in the American Revolution.
Critical Period
periods when a major, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties.
Declaration of Independence
The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence.
Electoral College
Comprised of party delegates with the job of casting their vote for the candidate of the party they represent in the national election.
Enumerated Powers
Those powers that are given to the national government exclusively.
Federalism
A constitutional principle reserving separate powers to the national and state levels of government.
Federalists
Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.
The Federalist Papers
A collection of 885 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name “Publius” to defend the Constitution in detail.
First Continental Congress
a meeting of delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies who met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution.
French and Indian War
A series of military engagements between Britain and France in North America between 1754 and 1763.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
All states recognize documents and court decisions of other states
George Washington
1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution
Great Compromise
A constitutional proposal that made membership in one house of Congress proportional to each state’s population and membership in the other equal for all states.
Implied Powers
Powers deemed “necessary and proper” by the Elastic Clause.
Inherit Powers
those powers that Congress and the president need in order to get the job done right.
James Madison
A principal architect of the Constitution who felt that a government powerful enough to encourage virtue in its citizens was to powerful.
John Jay
Was an American statesman, Patriot, diplomat, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, negotiator and signatory of the Treaty of Paris of 1783, second Governor of New York, and the first Chief Justice of the United States
Lexington and Concord
The first battle of the Revolutionary War, fought in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775.
Mercantilism
belief in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism.
Montesquieu
French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers
Necessary and Proper Clause
A section of the United States Constitution that enables Congress to make the laws required for the exercise of its other powers established by the Constitution.
New Jersey Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state’s population.
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the majority of Earth’s Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas
Political Culture
An overall set of values widely shared within a society.
Samuel Adams
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence
Second Continental Congress
they sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King, who denied, sent more troops and essentially declared war
Seperation of Powers
A feature of the Constitution that requires each of the three branches of government-executive, legislative, and judicial-to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these institutions.
Shay’s Rebellion
A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.
Social Contract Theory
which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people
Sons and Daughters of Liberty
protested and rioted against the taxes, boycotted the items taxed
Stamp Act Congress
The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used.
Supremacy Clause
The clause in United States Constitution’s Article VI, stating that all laws made furthering the Constitution and all treaties made under the authority of the United States are the “supreme law of the land.”
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Paine
philosopher and writer who supported revolutionary causes in America and Europe
Three-Fifths Compromise
Compromise agreement 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.
Virginia Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state’s share of the U.S. population.
