Constitution Flashcards
Constitution
The foundational structure of the american governmental system.
The Declaration of Independence
Document expressing the reasons for independence and formulating the basic ideals of American liberty
Natural rights
Rights guaranteed to all persons by virtue of existence
Limited government
Restrictions on the powers of government
The Articles of Confederation
The first government of the United States which was ineffective because the national government did not have the power to compel states.
Factions
Interest groups or parties
New Jersey plan
Give all states equal representation in the legislature
Virginia plan
Give states representation according to their population
Connecticut compromise or Great compromise
Created two houses, one a Senate based on equal representation and the other a house whose representation was based on population
Writ of habeas corpus
The government must explain why a person is being held for a crime
Separation of powers
Powers and the government are separated into three branches so that no one branch has power over the others
Checks and balances
Each branch has power over the other two in order to constrain their actions
Federalists
The faction that supported the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
The faction opposing the Constitution
Bill of rights
The first 10 amendments of the Constitution that protect individual liberty
