Chapter 2: The Constitution and its Origins Flashcards
Those who did not support the ratification of the constitution
Anti-Federalists
The basis for the new nation’s government; adopted in 1781; created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government
Articles of Confederation
A legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress
Bicameral legislature
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution; most were designed to protect fundamental rights and liberties
Bill of Rights
A system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch
Checks and Balances
A highly decentralized form of government: sovereign states form a union for purposes such as mutual defense
Confederation
A document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British king
Declaration of Independence
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
Enumerated powers
A form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government
Federal government
Those who supported ratification of the Constitution
Federalists
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
Great Compromise
The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by a god; no government may take away
Natural rights
A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one vote
New Jersey Plan
A form of national government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch and is exercised by elected representatives
Republic
Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reversed to the states and denied to the federal government
Reserved powers
T
The sharing of powers among three separate branches of government
Separation of powers
An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long the government protects their natural rights
Social contract
The statement in Article VI of the Constitution that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures
Supremacy clause
A collection of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution
The Federalist Papers
A compromise between northern and southern states that called for counting of all state’s free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress
Three-Fifths Compromise
A legislature with only one house, like the Confederation Congress or the legislature proposed by the New Jersey Plan
Unicameral legislature
The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress
Veto
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
Virginia Plan
CC
Representation in the Article of Confederation was based on:
Equality among states
CC
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government could do all of the follow except:
Tax
CC
Representative in the House serve terms of how many years?
2
CC
Senators serve terms of how many years?
6
CC
How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution?
9
CC
The USA has only had one Constitution.
False
CC
The delegates at the Constitutional convention were basically like the average American at the time.
False
CC
Alexander Hamilton was in favor of a strong central government.
False
CC
- Some of the negatives of the Articles of Confederation were (choose all that apply)
There was no executive brach
All decisions were collective
The government had no power to levy taxes
CC
From where did our bicameral legislature originate?
The Great Compromise
CC
The ______ were against the Constitution. One of the reasons for this was _________.
Anti-Federalists, The government would be too large and would trample on individual liberties.
CC
Which Constitutional plan advocated for legislative representation solely based on population?
Virginia Plan
CC
Which Constitutional plan advocated for legislative representation to be equal for all states.
New Jersey Plan
CC
The 3/5ths Compromise had to do with:
Representation in the House of Representatives
CC
- The legislative branch is listed _____ in the constitution, because it is ________.
First, most important
CC
One of the Vice President’s powers is to
Cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate
CC
Which branch of government has the job of making laws?
Legislative
CC
Which branch of government is responsible for carrying out the laws?
Executive
CC
Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the law?
Judicial
CC
The ability of each branch of government to limit the actions of the other two is known as:
Checks and Balances
CC
he dividing of powers between the three branches of government is known as:
Separation of powers
T
British Colonists in North America in the late seventeenth century were greatly influenced by the political thought of_______.
John Locke
