Chapter 2 Key Terms

Question 1

Anti-Feralist

Answer 1

An individual who opposed the ratification of the new Constitution in 1787. The Anti-Federalists were opposed to a strong central government.

Question 2

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 2

A legislature made up of two parts, called chambers.

Question 3

Checks and Balances

Answer 3

A major principle of the American system of government whereby each branch of government can check the actions of the others.

Question 4

Confederation

Answer 4

A political system in which states or regional governments retain ultimate authority except for those powers they expressly delegate to a central government.

Question 5

Electoral College

Answer 5

A group of persons, called electors, that officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States. The electors are selected by the voters in each state and in the District of Columbia.

Question 6

Federalist

Answer 6

An individual who was in favor of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the creation of a federal union with a strong central government.

Question 7

Great Compromise

Answer 7

The compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia plans that created one chamber of the Congress based on population and one chamber representing each state equally; also called the Connecticut Compromise.

Question 8

Judicial Review

Answer 8

The power of the Supreme Court or any court to examine and possibly declare unconstitutional federal or state laws and other acts of government.

Question 9

Madisonian Model

Answer 9

A structure of government proposed by James Madison, in which the powers of the government are separated into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial

Question 10

Ratification

Answer 10

Formal approval

Question 11

Separation of Powers

Answer 11

The principal of dividing governmental powers among different branches of government.

Question 12

State

Answer 12

A group of people occupying a specific area and organized under one government. It may be either a nation or a subunit of a nation.

Question 13

Supremacy Doctrine

Answer 13

A doctrine that asserts the priority of national law over state laws. This principle is stated in Article VI of the Constitution.

Question 14

Unicameral Legislature

Answer 14

A legislature with only one legislative chamber, as opposed to a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature, such as the U.S. Congress.