Midterm 2 Flashcards
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the Constitution in the debate over its ratification
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution who favored its ratification
The Federalist Papers
85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pen-name Publius (was the last consul of the Roman Republic before is was overthrown and became a dictatorship).
Bicameral Legislature
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts. The U.S. Congress is one of them (Senate and House of Representatives)
Checks and Balances
a system that balances the distribution of power in a government.
Enumerated Powers
powers given to the national government alone
Federal System
System of government in which powers are divided between the national government and state or local governments.
Great Compromise
an agreement made by the Constitutional Convention providing a dual system of congressional representation
New Jersey Plan
A plan where legislatures would have a singe house with each state having one vote.
Reserved Powers
Powers granted to the states by the Constitution that are not specifically listed
Separation of Powers
3 branches of government:
- Legislative (Congress, Senate, House of Representatives)
- Executive (President, Vice President, Cabinet)
- Judicial (Supreme court, Other courts)
Three-Fifths Compromise
A compromise where every 5 enslaved people counted as 3 in the states population.
Unicameral Legislature
Consists of one house
Veto
to reject or prohibit actions and laws of other government officials
Virginia Plan
A plan created by Edmund Randolph where the votes are counted based on population
Articles of Confederation
the (weak) 1st constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
Declaration of Independence
a document that declared the American colonies independent from British rule. It outlined why they wanted independence and described all the wrong things that the King and the British Parliament had done to the colonies. It was signed in the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776
Natural Rights
the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property or pursuit of happiness.
Social Contract
An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed
