Chapter 2 Vocab-The Constitution Flashcards
Declaration of Independence
The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence.
Constitution
Nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Constitutions can be either written or unwritten.
Natural Rights
Rights inherent in human beings include life, liberty, and property
Consent of the Governed
The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.
Limited Government
The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States, adopted by the conference in 1777 and enacted in 1781. The articles established the national legislature, but Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatures.
Shay’s Rebellion
Serious of attacks on court houses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary war captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.
US Constitution
The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the United States government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the articles of confederation
Factions
Interest groups arising from the on equal distribution of property or wealth that James Madison attack in Federalist paper NO. 10.
New Jersey plan
The proposal at the Constitutional convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the states population.
Virginia plan
The proposal of the Constitutional convention that called for representation of each state in Congress and proportion to the states share of the US population
Connecticut compromise
Established two houses of Congress: the house of representatives, in which representation is based on a states share of the US population, and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives
Writ of habeas corpus
A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
Separation of powers
A feature of the Constitution that requires each of the three branches of government to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others.
Checks and balances
Features of the Constitution that limited government power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions.
Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws
Federalists
Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption
Anti-Federalist
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption
Federalist papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name publius us to defend the Constitution in detail
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the anti-Federalist concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties as freedom of religion’s, speech, and press and guarantee defendants rights
Equal rights amendment
A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that you quality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Marberry V. Madison
The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution
Judicial review
The power of the courts to determine whether ask of Congress, and by implication that executed, are in accord with the US Constitution.
