Chapter 2: The Constitution

Question 1

Constitutional Convention

Answer 1

A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new Constitution

Question 2

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 2

A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

Question 3

Virginia plan

Answer 3

Proposal to create a strong national government

Question 4

New Jersey plan

Answer 4

Proposal to create a weak national government

Question 5

Great Compromise

Answer 5

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-elected Senate, with two members for each state

Question 6

Republic

Answer 6

A government in which elected representatives make the decisions

Question 7

Judicial review

Answer 7

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Question 8

Federalism

Answer 8

Government authority shared by national and local governments

Question 9

Enumerated powers

Answer 9

Powers given to the national government alone

Question 10

Reserved powers

Answer 10

Powers given to the state government alone

Question 11

Concurrent powers

Answer 11

Powers shared by the national and state governments

Question 12

Checks and balances

Answer 12

Authority shared by three branches of government

Question 13

Separation of powers

Answer 13

Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government

Question 14

Faction

Answer 14

A group with a distinct political interest

Question 15

Federalists

Answer 15

Those who favor a stronger national government

Question 16

Antifederalists

Answer 16

Those who favor a weaker national government

Question 17

Coalition

Answer 17

An alliance of groups

Question 18

Bill of Rights

Answer 18

First ten amendments to the Constitution

Question 19

Habeas corpus

Answer 19

An order to produce an arrested person before a judge

Question 20

Bill of attainder

Answer 20

A law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of crime

Question 21

Ex post facto law

Answer 21

A law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed

Question 22

Amendments

Answer 22

A new provision in the constitution that has been ratified by the states

Question 23

Line-item veto

Answer 23

An executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

Question 24

Articles of Confederation

Answer 24

A weak Constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War