Chapter 2 US Flashcards
(23 cards)
Anti-Federalists
those who did not support ratification of the Constitution
Articles of Confederation
the first basis for the new nation’s government; adopted in 1781
Bicarneral Legislative
a legislature with two houses; such as the U.S. Congress
Bill of Rights
the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution; most were designed to protect fundamental rights and liberties
Checks and Balances
a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch
Confederation
a highly decentralized form of government; sovereign states form a union for purposes such as mutual defense
Declaration of Independence
a document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British King
enumerated powers
the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs
Federal system
a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government
Federalists
those who supported ratification of the Constitution
Great Compromise
compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a 2 house Congress
Natural Rights
the right to life, liberty, and property
New Jersey Plan
a plan that called for a one house national legislature; each state would receive one vote
republic
a form of government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch, and is exercised by elected representatives
reserved powers
any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government
separation of powers
the sharing of powers among the separate branches of government
social contract
an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights
supremacy clause
the statement in Article VI of the Constitution that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures
The Federalist Papers
a collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution
Three-Fifths Compromise
between northern and southern states that called for counting of all a state’s free population and 60% of its slave population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress
Unicameral Legislature
with only 1 house, like the Confederation Congress or the legislature proposed by the New Jersey Plan
Veto
the power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress
Virginia Plan
a 2 house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower house based on each state’s population; representatives for the upper house would be chose by the lower house
