Ch. 2

Question 1

Anti-federalist

Answer 1

An individual who opposed the ratification of the new Constitution in 1787. The Anti-Federalists were opposed to a strong central government

Question 2

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 2

A legislature made up of two pats, called chambers. The U.S Congress, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate is a bicameral legislature

Question 3

Checks and Balances

Answer 3

A major principle of the American system of government whereby each branch of the government can check the actions of others

Question 4

Confederation

Answer 4

A political system in which states or regional governments retain ultimate authority except for those powers they expressly delegate to a central government

Question 5

Electoral College

Answer 5

A group of persons, called electors, that officially elects the president and the vice president of the U.S. The electors are selected by each state and the District of Columbia

Question 6

Federalist

Answer 6

An individual who was in favor of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the creation of a federal union with a strong central government

Question 7

Great Compromise

Answer 7

The compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia plans created one chamber of the Congress based on population and one chamber representing each state equality; also called the Connecticut Compromise

Question 8

Judicial Review

Answer 8

The power of the Supreme Court or any court to examine and possibly declare unconstitutional federal or state laws and other acts of government

Question 9

Legislature

Answer 9

A governmental body primarily responsible for the making of laws

Question 10

Madisonian Model

Answer 10

A structure of government proposed by James Madison, in which the powers of the government are separated into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial

Question 11

Natural Rights

Answer 11

Rights held to be inherent or natural law, not dependent on governments

Question 12

Ratification

Answer 12

Formal approval

Question 13

Separation of Powers

Answer 13

The principle of dividing governmental powers among different branches of government

Question 14

Social Contract

Answer 14

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules

Question 15

State

Answer 15

A group of people occupying a specific area and organized under one government. It may be either a nation or subunit of a nation

Question 16

Supremacy Doctrine

Answer 16

A doctrine that asserts the priority of national law over state laws. This principle is stated in Auricle VI o the Constitution

Question 17

Unicameral Legislature

Answer 17

A legislature with only one legislative chamber, as opposed to a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature, such as the U.S Congress