Creating the Constitution Flashcards
A meeting held in 1787 to consider changes to the Articles of Confederation; resulted in the drafting of the Constitution.
Constitutional Convention
Proposed a government with three branches and a two-house legislature in which representation would be based on a state’s population or wealth.
Virginia Plan
A plan of government that called for a one house legislature in which each state would have one vote.
New Jersey Plan
The Constitutional Convention’s agreement to establish a two-house national legislature, with all states having equal representation in one house and each state having representation based on its population in the other house.
Great Compromise
Based on state’s population.
House of Representatives
Each state would have 2 regardless of population.
Senate
The Constitutional Convention’s agreement to count three-fifths of a state’s slaves as population for purposes of representation and taxation.
Three-Fifths Compromise
Sharing of power between a central government and the states that make up the country.
Federalism
A system established by the Constitution that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful.
Checks and Balances
Congress. Congress is responsible for proposing and passing laws.
Legislative Branch
Includes the President and the departments that run the governments.
Executive Branch
The division of the federal court system that is made up of the national courts; interprets laws, punishes criminals, and settles disputes between states.
Judicial Branch
Supporters of the Constitution.
Federalists
Writers of the Federalist Papers. They supported the Constitution.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
A person who opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Antifederalists
