Chapter 2: Constitution & It's Origins Key Terms Flashcards
Anti-Federalists
those who did not support ratification of the Constitution
Articles of Confederation
the first basis for the new nation’s government; adopted in 1781; created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government
bicameral legislature
a legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress
Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution; most were designed to protect fundamental rights and liberties
checks and balances
a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work together
confederation
a highly decentralized form of government; sovereign states form a union for purposes such as mutual defense
Declaration of Independence
a document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British king
enumerated powers
the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs
federal system
a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government
Federalists
those who supported ratification of the Constitution
Great Compromise
a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a two-house Congress; representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate
natural rights
the right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government may take away
New Jersey Plan
a plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one vote
republic
a form of government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch, and is exercised by elected representatives
reserved powers
any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government
separation of powers
the sharing of powers among three separate branches of government
social contract
an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights
supremacy clause
the statement in Article VI of the Constitution that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures
The Federalist Papers
a collection of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution
Three-Fifths Compromise
a compromise between northern and southern states that called for counting of all a state’s free population and 60 percent of its enslaved population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress
unicameral legislature
a legislature with only one house, like the Confederation Congress or the legislature proposed by the New Jersey Plan
veto
the power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress
Virginia Plan
a plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower house based on each state’s population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the lower house
pocket veto
The president receives the bill at the end of a legislative session, but refuses to sign the bill, and in effect kills the bill.
two-thirds override
If the president vetoes a bill, each house of Congress can act separately to reverse the veto through a requirement of having a two-thirds super majority vote in each house.
advice and consent
formal approval
impeachment
an accusation, an indictment of wrongdoing
Federalism
the balance of power among a central, national authority and state or regional authorities - assures a limited government.
commerce clause
empowers the Congress to “regulate commerce with other nations, and among the several states.”
Electoral College
States decide how their electors would be chosen. Each state would have the same number of electors that they had representatives in Congress, and the people would vote for the electors. Having electors choose the president represents one way in which the elite model of democracy helps shape government.
elite democracy
elected representatives made decisions and act as trustees for the people who elected them. It recognizes an inequality in the spread of power among the populace and that the elites (people with resources and influence) dominate.
extradition
when states are expected to return fugitives to states where they had committed crimes and runaway slaves to states they had fled.
full faith and credit clause
requires states to be open about their laws and encourages states to respect one another’s laws.
Grand Committee
Representation had been the frustration of the Americans since they began seeking independence. The more populated states believed they deserved a stronger voice in making national decisions, while the small states sough to retain equal footing. The matter was deferred to a committee made up of one delegate from each of the states represented at the convention. George Mason, William Paterson, Benjamin Franklin, and Roger Sherman were among the committee. This eventually lead to the development of the Great Compromise.
