Constitution to War of 1812 Flashcards
Legislature
A group of people who have the power to make laws
bicameral legislature
A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate.
unicameral legislature
A legislature with only one legislative chamber, as opposed to a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature
Republicanism
A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.
Democracy
government by the people
mob rule
control of a political situation by those outside the conventional or lawful realm, typically involving violence and intimidation
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
Ratification
formal approval
amendment
a change in, or addition to, a constitution or law
interstate commerce
trade between two or more states
Land Ordinance of 1785
A law that divided much of the United States into a system of townships to facilitate the sale of land to settlers
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
a law that established a procedure for the admission of new states to the Union
Articles of Confederation weaknesses
•weak union (central gov.)
•no taxes imposed
•could not regulate trade
•no courts or President
Shay’s Rebellion (1786)
This Massachusetts conflict caused criticism of the Articles of Confederation; weak govt; increased calls for a Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles
Constitutional Convention
The meeting of state delegates/representatives in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.
Rhode Island
Only state not to attend the Constitutional Convention. Distrust of central authority. Did not ratify Constitution until a year after Washington was sworn in as president.
delegate
A person appointed or elected to represent others
George Washington
Commander in Chief of Continental Army, first president, Presidency 1789-1797.
Virginia Plan
“Large state” proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan
A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress. Favored by small states.
Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
*Called for a bicameral legislative system in which the House of Representatives would be based on population and the Senate would have equal representation in Congress
*Combined pieces of the New Jersey Plan, the Virginia Plan, and other proposals
House of Representatives
the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population
U.S. Senate
the upper house of the U.S. Congress, equal number of representatives (2 per state)
Article I of the Constitution discusses….
Congress
