Ch.2 The Constitution Flashcards
Shays’ Rebellion
what pushed American notables over the edge was the threat of insurrection represented by what came to be called SHAYS’ REBELLION. Named after its leader Captain Daniel Shays the rebellion occurred in western Massachusetts in 1786 when armed men took over court houses in order to prevent judges from ordering the seizure of farms for nonpayment of state taxes to prevent judges from ordering the seizure of farms
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States, adopted during the last stages of the Revolutionary War, created a system of government with most power lodged in the states and little in the central government.
Republicanism
a political doctrine advocating limited government based on popular consent protected against majority tyranny
Connecticut Compromise
also called the GREAT COMPROMISE, the compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia plans formulated by the Connecticut delegates at the Constitutional Convention; called for a lower legislative house based on population size and an upper house on equal representation of the states
Supremacy Clause
the provision in Article VI of the Constitution that the Constitution itself and the laws and treaties of the United States are the supreme law of the land, taking precedence over state laws and constitutions when they are in conflict
Electoral College
Made of up the members from the Senate and the House of Representatives.
representatives selected in each of the states, their numbers based on each state’s total number of its senators and representatives” a majority of Electoral College votes elects the President
Federalist Papers
series of 85 articles and essays written by ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JAMES MADISON, AND JOHN JAY, promoting the RATIFICATION of the United States Constitution
Bill of Rights
the first 10 amendments to the U.S Constitution, concerned with the protection of basic liberties
Separation of Powers
the distribution of government legislative, executive, and judicial powers to separate branches of government
Checks and Balances
the constitutional principle that each of the separate branches of the government has the power to hinder the unilateral actions of the other branches as a way to restrain an overreaching government and prevent tyranny
Establishment Clause
the part of the First Amendment to the Constitution that prohibits congress from establishing an official religion: the basis for the doctrine of the separation of church and state
Free Exercise Clause
that portion of the First Amendment to the Constitution that prohibits Congress from impeding religious observance or impinging upon religious beliefs
Free enterprise
an economic systems characterized by competitive markets and private ownership of a society’s productive: a form of capitalism
