Chapter 2 - The Constitution Flashcards
Mercantilism
An economic theory designed to increase the nations wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade
Stamp act Congress
Meeting of representatives of nine of the 13 colonies held in New York City in 1765, during which representatives drafted a document to send to the king listing how the rights have been violated
Committees of Correspondence
Organizations in each of the American colonies created to keep colonists abreast of developments with the British; served as powerful molders of public opinion against the British
First Continental Congress
Meeting held in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in which 56 delegates (from every colony except Georgia) adopted a resolution in opposition to the Coercive Acts
Second Continental Congress
Meeting that convened in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, at which it was decided that an army should be raised and George Washington of Virginia was named commander in chief
Confederation
Type of government where the national government derives its powers from the states; a league of Independent states
Declaration of independence
Document drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 the proclaimed the right of the American colonies to separate from Great Britain
Articles of Confederation
The compact among the 13 original states that was the basis of their government. Written in 1776, the Articles were not ratified by all the states until 1781
Shay’s Rebellion
A 1786 rebellion which an army of 1500 disgruntled and angry farmers led by Daniel Shays marched to Springfield, Massachusetts, and forcibly restrained the state court from foreclosing mortgages on their farms
Constitution
A document establishing the structure, functions, and limitations of government
Virginia Plan
The first general plan for the Constitution, proposed by James Madison. It’s key points were bicameral legislature, an executive chosen by the legislator, and the judiciary also name by the legislature
New Jersey Plan
A framework for the Constitution proposed by a group of small states; its key points were all one-house legislature with one vote for each state, establishment of the acts of Congress as the “supreme law”of the land, and a supreme judiciary with limited power
Great Compromise
A decision made during the Constitutional Convention to give each state the same number representatives in the Senate regardless of size; representation in the House was determined by population
Three-Fifths Compromise
Agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention stipulating that each slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of determining population for representation in the United States House of Representatives
Separation of powers
A way of dividing power among three branches of government in which members of the House of Representatives, members of the Senate, the president, and the federal courts are selected by the responsible to different constituencies
Checks and balances
A governmental structure that gives each of the three branches of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others
Federal system
Plan of government created in United States Constitution in which power is divided between the national government and the state governments and in which independent states are bound together under one national government
Enumerated powers
17 specific powers granted to Congress under article 1, section 8, of the United States Constitution; these powers include taxation, coinage of money, regulation of commerce, and the authority to provide for a national defense
Necessary and Proper Clause
The final paragraph of article 1, section a couple of the US Constitution, which gives Congress the authority to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers specified in the Constitution; also called the elastic clause
Implied powers
Powers derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause. These powers are not stated specifically but are considered to be reasonably implied through the exercise of delegated powers
Supremacy clause
Portion of article 4 of the US Constitution mandating that national law supreme to (that is, supersedes) all other laws passed by the states or by any other subdivision of government
Federalists
Those who favored a stronger national government supported the proposed U.S. Constitution; later became the first US political party.
Anti-Federalist’s
Those who favored strong state governments and a week national government; opposed the ratification of the US Constitution
The Federalist papers
A series of eighty-five political papers written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison in support of ratification of the U.S. Constitution
Bill of rights
First 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution
