Constitution Flashcards
amendment (constitutional)
A change in, or addition to, a constitution. Amendments are proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures and ratified by approval of three-fourths of the states.
Antifederalists
Opponents to the ratification of the Constitution who valued liberty above all else and believed it could be protected only in a small republic. They emphasized states’ rights and worried that the new central government was too strong.
Articles of Confederation
Our first constitution.The document establishing a “league of friendship” among the American states in 1781. The government proved too weak to rule effectively and was replaced by the current Constitution.
bill of attainder
A law that declares a person, without trial, to be guilty of a crime. This is a DENIED power.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
checks and balances
The power of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government to block some acts by the other two branches.
Consent of the governed (also known as popular sovereignty)
the belief that the government gets its power with the approval of the people. We GIVE government its authority
Direct democracy
a government where every ONE votes on every THING. This is only practical in small societies. It is frequently used in New England Town Hall meetings for small town laws and decisions. Not practical in large societies
ex post facto law
A law which makes criminal an act that was legal when in was committed. A DENIED POWER
faction
A term employed by James Madison to refer to interests that exist in society, such as farmers and merchants, northerners and southerners, debtors and creditors. Madison surmised that each interest would seek its own advantage and that the back and forth among them would promote political stability on a national basis.
federalism
A political system in which power is shared between a central government and state/regional governments.
Federalist papers
A series of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay that were published in New York newspapers to convince New Yorkers to adopt the newly proposed Constitution.
Federalists
A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
judicial review
The power of courts to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional. It is also a way of limiting the power of popular majorities.
natural rights
A philosophical belief expressed in the Declaration of Independence that certain rights are ordained by God, are discoverable in nature and history, and are essential to human progress. The perception that these rights were violated by Great Britain contributed to the American Revolution.
