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Question 2

Constitution

Answer 2

A nation’s basic law. It creates political instituitions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Can be either written or unwritten.

Question 3

Declaration

Answer 3

The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence.

Question 4

Natural Rights

Answer 4

Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. This concept was central to English philosopher John Locke’s theories about government and was widely accepted among America’s Founding Fathers.

Question 5

Consent of the Governed

Answer 5

The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.

Question 6

Limited Government

Answer 6

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Question 7

Articles of Confederation

Answer 7

The first constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. It established a national legislature, the Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatures.

Question 8

Shays’ Rebellion

Answer 8

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.

Question 9

U.S. Constitution

Answer 9

The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.

Question 10

Factions

Answer 10

Interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper No. 10. Today’s parties or interest groups are what Madison had in mind when he warned of the instability in government caused by these.

Question 11

New Jersey Plan

Answer 11

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state’s population.

Question 12

Virginia Plan

Answer 12

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state’s share of the U.S. population.

Question 13

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 13

The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, in which representation is based on a state’s share of the U.S. population, and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.

Question 14

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Answer 14

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.

Question 15

Separation of Powers

Answer 15

A feature of the Constitution that requires each of the three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these three institutions.

Question 16

Checks and Balances

Answer 16

Features of the Constitution that limit government’s power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions. These institutions continually constrain one another’s activities.

Question 17

Republic

Answer 17

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Question 18

Federalists

Answer 18

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.

Question 19

Anti-Federalists

Answer 19

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Question 20

Federalist Papers

Answer 20

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name “Publius” to defend the Constitution in detail.

Question 21

Amendment 1

Answer 21

Freedom of speech, press, and assembly. Freedom to petition government. Freedom to exercise religion.

Question 22

Amendment 2

Answer 22

Right to bear arms.

Question 23

Amendment 3

Answer 23

No forced quartering of troops in homes during peacetime.

Question 24

Amendment 4

Answer 24

No unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 25

Amendment 5

Answer 25

No taking of private property for public use without just compensations, grand jury indictment required for prosecution of serious crime, no second prosecution for the same offense, no compulsion to testify against oneself, no loss of life liberty or property without due process of law.

Question 26

Amendment 6

Answer 26

Right to a speedy and public trial.

Question 27

Amendment 7

Answer 27

Right to jury trail in civil suit where the value of controversy exceeds $20.

Question 28

Amendment 8

Answer 28

No excessive bail or fines, No cruel and unusual punishments.

Question 29

Amendment 9

Answer 29

Unlisted rights are not necessarily denied.

Question 30

Amendment 10

Answer 30

Powers not delgated to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the states or the people.

Question 31

Equal Rights Amendment

Answer 31

A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The amendment failed to acrquire the necessary support from three-fourths of the state legislatures.

Question 32

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 32

The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court’s power of judicial review over acts of Congress, in this case the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Question 33

Bill of Rights

Answer 33

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties such as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendants’ rights.

Question 34

Judicial Review

Answer 34

The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress, and by implication its executive, are in accord with the U.S. Constitution. Established by John Marshall and his associates in Marbury v. Madison.