Ch.2 The Constitution Flashcards
Constitution
a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
Declaration of independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Natural rights
Many philosophers and political scientists make a distinction between natural rights and legal rights.
Consent of the governed
government must be based on the consent of the people who live under its command
Limited government
the idea that certain things are out of bounds for government because of the natural rights of citizens
Articles of confederation
the first Constitution of the United States adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781 the articles established a national legislature the Continental Congress but most of authority rested with the state legislatures
Shay’s rebellion
a series of attacks on court houses by a small band of farmers led by revolutionary war captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings
US constitution
set forth the institutional structure of u s government and tasks the institutions perform
factions
interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth that James Madison attacked in Federalist Papers number 10
New Jersey plan
called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state’s population
Virginia plan
representation of each state In Congress in proportion to that states share of the US population
Connecticut compromise
representation is based on a states share of the US population and in the Senate in which each state has two representatives
Writ of habeaus corpus
a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody
Separation of powers
an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies.
Checks and balances
counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.
Republic
a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
federalists
a member or supporter of the Federalist Party.
Anti-Federalists
Opposed current constitution
Bill of Rights
a statement of the rights of a class of people, in particular.
Equal Rights Amendment
proposed amendment to the US Constitution stating that civil rights may not be denied on the basis of one’s sex.
Federalists papers
series of essays explaining and defending the national government created by the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Marbury v Madison
Marbury v. Madison, is a landmark case in United States law. It formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States under Article III of the Constitution.
judicial review
review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act.
