Chapter 2

Question 1

constitution

Answer 1

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

Question 2

natural rights

Answer 2

(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

Question 3

republic

Answer 3

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

Question 4

bicameral legislature

Answer 4

legislature comprising two parts, called chambers

Question 5

confederation

Answer 5

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

Question 6

unicameral legislature

Answer 6

a legislative body with a single chamber

Question 7

dual sovereignty

Answer 7

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

Question 8

supremacy clause

Answer 8

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

Question 9

separation of powers

Answer 9

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

Question 10

checks and balances

Answer 10

a system in which each branch of government can monitor and limit the functions of the other branches

Question 11

virginia plan

Answer 11

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

Question 12

new jersey plan

Answer 12

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

Question 13

connecticut (or great) compromise

Answer 13

created a bicameral legislature with one chamber’s representation based on population and the other chamber having two members for each state

Question 14

electoral college

Answer 14

the name given to the body of representatives elected by voters in each state to elect the president and the vice president

Question 15

three-fifths compromise

Answer 15

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

Question 16

article 1

Answer 16

article that describes the authority, structure, and processes of the legislative branch

Question 17

article 2

Answer 17

article that describes the authority, structure, and processes of the executive branch

Question 18

veto

Answer 18

the president’s rejection of a bill, which is sent back to congress with the president’s objections noted

Question 19

advice and consent

Answer 19

the senates authority to approve or reject the presidents appointments

Question 20

article 3

Answer 20

article that describes the authority, structure, and processes of the judicial branch

Question 21

marbury v madison

Answer 21

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

Question 22

judicial review

Answer 22

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

Question 23

federalists

Answer 23

individuals who supported the new constitution as presented by the constitutional convention in 1787

Question 24

anti-federalists

Answer 24

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

Question 25

the federalist papers

Answer 25

a series of essays, written by james madison, alexander hamilton, and john jay, that argued for the ratification of the constitution

Question 26

bill of rights

Answer 26

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

Question 27

thomas paine

Answer 27

wrote the pamphlet, common sense, and the crisis to encourage american independence, argued for revolution

Question 28

declaration of independence

Answer 28

“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.”

Question 29

weaknesses of articles of confederation

Answer 29

congress could not regulate trade
could not levy taxes
no executive branch
no federal court system

Question 30

states

Answer 30

held the most power under the articles of confederation

Question 31

shays’ rebellion

Answer 31

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

Question 32

federalist no 51

Answer 32

written by james madison, argues for a republican government with a system of checks and balances and separation of powers