Chapter 2 Flashcards
constitution
the fundamental principles of a government and the basic structures and procedures by which the government operates to fulfill those principles; may be written or unwritten
natural rights
(also called unalienable rights), the rights possessed by all humans as a gift from nature, or God, including the rights to life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
republic
a government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect government officials to represent them in the process by which laws are made; a representative democracy
bicameral legislature
legislature comprising two parts, called chambers
confederation
a union of independent states in which each state retains its sovereignty, rights, and power, which is not by their agreement expressly delegated to a central governing body
unicameral legislature
a legislative body with a single chamber
dual sovereignty
a system of government in which ultimate governing authority is divided between two levels of government, a central government and regional governments, with each level having ultimate authority over different policy matters
supremacy clause
a clause in article VI of the constitution that states that the constitution and the treaties and laws created by the national government in compliance with the constitution are the supreme law of the land
separation of powers
the constitutions delegation of authority for the primary governing functions among three branches of government so that no one group of government officials controls all the governing functions
checks and balances
a system in which each branch of government can monitor and limit the functions of the other branches
virginia plan
the new governmental structure proposed by the virginia delegation to the constitutional convention, which consisted of a bicameral legislature (congress), an executive elected by the legislature, and a separate national judiciary; state representation in congress would be proportional, based on state population; the people would elect members to the lower house, and members of the lower house would elect members of the upper house
new jersey plan
the proposal presented in response to the virginia plan by the less populous states at the constitutional convention, which called for a unicameral national legislature in which all states would have an equal voice (equal representation), an executive office composed of several people elected by Congress, and a Supreme Court whose members would be appointed by the executive office
connecticut (or great) compromise
created a bicameral legislature with one chamber’s representation based on population and the other chamber having two members for each state
electoral college
the name given to the body of representatives elected by voters in each state to elect the president and the vice president
three-fifths compromise
the negotiated agreement by the delegates to the constitutional convention to count each slave as three-fifths of a free man for the purpose of representation and taxes
article 1
article that describes the authority, structure, and processes of the legislative branch
article 2
article that describes the authority, structure, and processes of the executive branch
veto
the president’s rejection of a bill, which is sent back to congress with the president’s objections noted
advice and consent
the senates authority to approve or reject the presidents appointments
article 3
article that describes the authority, structure, and processes of the judicial branch
marbury v madison
the 1803 supreme court case that established the power of judicial review, which allows courts to determine that an action taken by any government official or governing body violates the constitution
judicial review
court authority to determine that an action taken by any government official or governing body violates the constitution; established by the supreme court in the 1803 marbury v madison case
federalists
individuals who supported the new constitution as presented by the constitutional convention in 1787
anti-federalists
individuals who opposed ratification of the constitution because they were deeply suspicious of the power it gave to the national government and of the impact those power would have on states’ authority and individual freedom
the federalist papers
a series of essays, written by james madison, alexander hamilton, and john jay, that argued for the ratification of the constitution
bill of rights
the first ten amendments to the constitution, which were ratified in 1791, constituting an enumeration of the individual liberties with which the government is forbidden to interfere
part of the compromise reached to ratify the constitution
thomas paine
wrote the pamphlet, common sense, and the crisis to encourage american independence, argued for revolution
declaration of independence
“we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
weaknesses of articles of confederation
congress could not regulate trade
could not levy taxes
no executive branch
no federal court system
states
held the most power under the articles of confederation
shays’ rebellion
protest of farmers who couldn’t pay their war debts which caused them to lose their farms
conflict in massachusetts that demonstrated the need to change the articles of confederation
federalist no 51
written by james madison, argues for a republican government with a system of checks and balances and separation of powers
