Quiz Flashcards
State Sovereignty
A nation that governs itself independently of foreign powers
National Sovereignty
the idea that independent nation have an organized government and are self-contained, have a right to exist without other nations interfering.
Popular Sovereignty
Political theory that government is subject to the will of the people
Bicameral
Consisting of two houses, or chambers, especially in a legislature
Ratification
To sign or give formal consent to
Northwest Territory
Territory north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River
Depression
A period of low economic activity and widespread unemployment
Shay’s Rebellion
Lead by Daniel Shays; a group of farmers that thought of the new government as tyranny; frightened many national leaders; took place in Massachusetts
Constitutional Convention
A group of 55 delegates in Philadelphia working on the Constitution
James Madison
A Virginia planter who became the chief architect of the Constitution; became a leader of the new national government; took notes of what happened at the convention; 4th US president
The Virginia Plan
Proposed by Edmond Rudolph even though it was mostly made by James Madison; called for a two-house legislature, a chief executive chosen by the legislature, and a court system; number of representatives would be proportional to the population of state
New Jersey Plan
Kept the Confederations one-house legislature, with one vote for each state. Congress could set taxes and regulate trade
The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman proposed a two-house legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate would have an equal number of representatives from each state. The House of Representatives would include one representative for each 30,000 individuals in a state.
Three-Fifths Compromise
A compromise that counted each slave as three-fifths of a free person for taxation and representation
Bill of Rights
Guaranteed certain freedoms and legal protections to the state’s citizens; helped establish the idea that people have rights and that the power of government should be limited
Framers
A person who shapes or creates a concept, plan, or system
Federalism
The sharing of power between federal and state governments
Legislative Branch
The branch of government that makes the nation’s laws
Executive Branch
The branch of government, headed by the president, that carries out the nation’s laws and policies
Judicial Branch
The branch of government, including the federal court system, that interprets the nation’s laws
Checks and Balances
The system in which each branch of government has a check on the other two branches so that one branch does not become too powerful
Federalists
Supporters of the constitutions
Antifederalists
Individuals who opposed ratification of the Constitution
Alexander Hamilton
New York Lawyer who proposed calling a convention in Philadelphia to discuss trade issues
George Mason
One of the three delegates who refused to sign the Constituion; he would not sign it without a bill of rights
State Constituions
Many were based upon ideals expressed in the D.O.I. Other important ideals of state constitutions were popular sovereignty, government by the consent of the governed, and equal justice under law
The Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the USA; sovereignty was an important part of the A.O.C.
