Chapter 2 Flashcards
Articles of Confederation
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary war
Constitutional convention
A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution
Shays Rebellion
A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosure of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes
Amendments
A new provision in the constitution that has been ratified by the states
Line item veto
An executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature
Coalition
An alliance of groups
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments to the constitution
Habeas Corpus
An order to produce an rested person before a judge
Bill of Attainder
A law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime
Ex post facto law
A law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed
Enumerated Powers
Powers given to the national government alone
Reserved powers
Powers give to the state government alone
Concurrent powers
Powers shared by the national and state governments
Checks and balances
Authority shared by three branches of government
Separation of powers
Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government
