Constitution Flashcards
Constitution
a written plan that provides the basic framework of a government
Anti Federalists
opponents of ratifying the U.S. Constitution. They favored the loose association of states established under the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation
the first written plan of government for the United States. A confederation is an association of states that cooperate for a common purpose.
Constitutional Convention
a meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 at which delegates from the states wrote the U.S. Constitution
Electoral collage
the group established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president. Voters in each state choose their electors when they vote for president.
Federalists
supporters of ratifying the U.S. Constitution. They favored the creation of a strong federal government that shared power with the states.
Great Compomise
the plan of government adopted at the Constitutional Convention that established a two-house Congress. In the House of Representatives, representation from each state is based on state population. In the Senate, each state is represented by two senators.
Federalist Papers
a series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the Constitution by the states
Executive branch
the part of government that carries out, or executes, the laws
Judicial Branch
the part of government, consisting of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, that interprets the laws
legislative branch
the lawmaking part of government, called the legislature. To legislate is to make a law.
Popular Sovereignty
the idea that the government’s authority comes from the people
tribal sovereinty
the power of Indigenous tribes to govern themselves
3/5 compromise
an agreement made at the Constitutional Convention stating that enslaved persons would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state’s population for representation in the House of Representatives
Bill of Rights
a formal listing of the basic rights of people in the United States; the first ten amendments to the Constitution
