Section One - Development of Constitutional Democracy

Question 1

state of nature

Answer 1

A theory on how people might have lived before societies, or any governments existed.

Question 2

natural rights

Answer 2

The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government may
take away.

Question 3

social contract

Answer 3

A powerful, foundational agreement between people and their government in which
citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.

Question 4

direct democracy

Answer 4

A form of democracy where people participate personally in making government
decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them

Question 5

popular vote

Answer 5

The outcome of a democratic election in which all qualified voters are eligible to
participate, and the winner is the person who receives the largest number of individual votes.

Question 6

Popular sovereignty

Answer 6

the people ‘reign’ or control their government. People show they ‘reign’ over
government by selecting their leaders and laws (a republic type of government).

Question 7

due process

Answer 7

The requirement that when government deals with all people, government must have fair
procedures that it follows and which it applies equally to all.

Question 8

Declaration of Independence

Answer 8

The original document, authored principally by Thomas Jefferson, that
“birthed” the United States and started the Revolutionary War. It lists important natural rights and
grievances against the King of England, as well as declaring independence.

Question 9

articles of confederation

Answer 9

The first attempt at organizing the government of the United States,
consisting of a unicameral (one-chamber) Congress. Did not permit Congress to tax, regulate foreign or
interstate commerce, or enforce its laws. The Articles of Confederation failed as it formed an alliance of
sovereign state governments with too weak a national government.

Question 10

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 10

Daniel Shay threatened rebellion against the Confederation government because of its
many weaknesses. Led to the Confederation Congress inviting the State Governments to attend the
Constitutional Convention.

Question 11

Constitutional Convention

Answer 11

a meeting in Philadelphia, 1787 where twelve State Government leaders
attended and dedicated approximately 100 days to write a 2nd U.S. Constitution comprised of three,
separate Branches of Government, newly created Checks & Balances, with elections for the new
national leaders, their powers, etc.

Question 12

bicameral legislature

Answer 12

A lawmaking body (or Congress) in the legislative branch that consists of two
separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such as Senators and Representatives,
like the Virginia Plan. Bi, meaning “two,” and camera, meaning “chamber,” are from Latin.

Question 13

Virginia Plan

Answer 13

A plan proposed by the representatives of Virginia at the Constitutional Convention for a
two-house (that is, bicameral) legislature, wherein the number of a state’s representatives in each
chamber would be based on the state’s population. Also wanted the Executive and Judicial Branches.

Question 14

New Jersey Plan

Answer 14

A plan proposed by the representatives of New Jersey at the Constitutional
Convention that called for a one-house national legislature in which each state would have one vote.
Also wanted the Executive and Judicial Branches.

Question 15

unicameral legislature

Answer 15

A lawmaking body (Congress) in the legislative branch that consists of only one
chamber, like the New Jersey Plan and also in the Articles of Confederation. Uni, meaning “one,” and
camera, meaning “chamber,” are from Latin.

Question 16

great compromise

Answer 16

Also known as the Connecticut Compromise, this was a 1787 agreement that
created a bicameral legislature (Congress) in the new 2nd United States Constitution, with representation
based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate.

Question 17

three-fifths compromise

Answer 17

During the creation of the U.S. Constitution, an agreement made between
Northern and Southern states that called for counting of all a state’s free population and 60 percent of
its slave population for the twin purposes of federal taxation and representation in Congress.

Question 18

separation of powers

Answer 18

The division of a government’s powers among three separate branches of
government, managed by different groups of people. In the United States, the three branches of
government are legislative, executive, and judicial. Legislative also means propose new laws; Executive
means enforce or administer the laws; and Judicial means judge or interpret the laws in court cases.

Question 19

checks and balances

Answer 19

Extra constitutional powers that allow each branch of government to limit the
exercise of power of the other two branches or approve their actions. This system requires different
parts of government to work together and find agreement in order to accomplish new official actions.

Question 20

federal system or federalism

Answer 20

A form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government

Question 21

ratification

Answer 21

The action of signing or otherwise officially approving a treaty, contract, or agreement,
making it legally valid. (The Ratification Debate was about whether to approve the 2nd US Constitution
between the Federalists and Anti-federalists.)

Question 22

the federalist papers

Answer 22

A series of 85 essays written and published by several of the Founding Fathers—
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay—in 1887-88, in favor of ratifying the newly written
2nd US Constitution.

Question 23

faction

Answer 23

Also called an interest group, this is a group of people who gather to petition government for
their special concern or try to take it over.

Question 24

republic

Answer 24

A system of government in which political power is held by the people through their ability to
elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.

Question 25

Bill of Rights

Answer 25

Collectively, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they list
citizens’ civil liberties and civil rights. The Anti-Federalists advocated for a Bill of Rights be added to the
2nd US Constitution