Chapter 6 Vocab Flashcards
Constitutional Convention
a meeting held in Philadelphia at which delegates from the states wrote the Constitution
James Madison
A Virginia delegate who contributed many ideas that helped shape the Constitution
Virginia Plan
the plan for government proposed at the Constitutional Convention in which the national government would have supreme power and a legislative branch would have two houses with representation determined by state population
New Jersey Plan
a proposal to create a unicameral legislature with equal representation of states rather than representation by population; rejected at the Constitutional Convention
Great Compromise
an agreement worked out at the Constitutional Convention establishing that a state’s population would determine representation in the lower house of the legislature, while each state would have equal representation in the upper house of the legislature
3/5 Compromise
an agreement worked out at the Constitutional Convention stating that only three-fifths of the slaves in a state would count when determining a state’s population for representation in the lower house of Congress
Popular Sovereignty
the idea that political authority belongs to the people
Legislative Branch
the division of the government that proposes bills and passes them into laws
Executive Branch
the division of the federal government that includes the president and the administrative departments; enforces the nation’s laws
Judicial Branch
the division of the federal government that is made up of the national courts; interprets laws, punishes criminals, and settles disputes between states
Checks and Balances
a system established by the Constitution that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful
Federalism
U.S. system of government in which power is distributed between a central government and individual states
Amendments
official change, correction, or addition to a law or constitution
Federalists
people who supported ratification of the Constitution
Federalist papers
a series of essays that defended and explained the Constitution and tried to reassure Americans that the states would not be overpowered by the proposed national government
