Chapter #3 Flashcards
Declaration of independence
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document that proclaimed the right of the colonies to separate from Great Britain
Social contract theory
The belief that people agree to set up rulers for certain purposes and thus have the right to resist or remove Rulers who act against those purposes
Confederation
A loose association of independent states that agreed to cooperate on specified matters
Articles of confederation
The compact among the 13 original states that establish the first government of the United States
Virginia plan
A set of proposals for a new government, submitted to the constitutional convention of 1787, it included separation of the government into three branches
Legislative branch
The lawmaking branch of government
Executive branch
The law enforcing branch of government
Judicial Branch
The law interpreting branch of government
The New Jersey plan
A set of nine resolutions that would have, in a fact, preserved the articles of confederation by amending rather than replacing them
The great compromise
A plan calling for a bicameral Legislature in which the house of representatives would be apportioned according to population and states would be represented equally in the Senate
Electoral college
A body of electors chosen by voters to cast ballots for president and vice president
Extraordinary majority
Majority greater than the minimum of 50% plus one
Republicanism
A form of government in which power resides in the people and is exercised by their elected representatives
Federalism
The division of power between a central government and regional governments
Separation of powers
The assignment of law making, law in forcing, and law interpreting functions to separate branches of government
