Terms Flashcards
(31 cards)
A form of political organization in which the sovereign states combine for certain specified purpose, such as mutual defense?
Confederation
An armed revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and mortgage foreclosures?
Shay’s Rebellion
The first constitution of the u.s., create to form a perpetual Union and a firm league of friendship among the thirteen original states?
Articles of confederation
Consists of courteous, reasoned discussion as opposed to impolite or emotional argument?
Civil discourse
Also called the Philadelphia Convention, this was the meeting help in Philadelphia from May to September 1787 at which the u.s. Constitution was written?
Constitutional convention
A person selected to act for or represent another person or group, especially at a conference or meeting.
Delegate
A form of government in which power is divided and shared between a central government and state and local governments. Also known as federalism.
Federal system
The organization that has central political authority in a nation.
National government
The electoral system in which the number of representatives for a state is based on the number of people living in a state, and is used to determine the number of each state’s representative in the u.s. House of Representatives?
Proportional representation
Presented at the Philadelphia convention provided for a national government composed of three branches. Proposed a congress of two houses, both of which would be based on proportional representation. Favored a strong central government.
Virginia Plan
A plan accepted at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 that called for a Congress of two houses: the upper house, or Senate, representation of the states would be equal, with each state having two senates; in the lower house representation would be apportioned according to the population of each state, so that the states with more people would have more representation.
The Great Compromise
A clause in the u.s. Constitution that provide that each slave should be counted as three-fifths of a person in determining the number of representatives a state might send to the House of Representatives.
The Three-Fifths Compromise
A legislative body that meets to date issues?
Deliberative body
Is the group of presidential electors who cast the official votes for president and Vice President after an election?
Electoral college
Those rights and responsibilities of the u.s. government specifically provide for and listed in the Constitution?
Enumerated powers
Gives congress the power to make all laws that are “ “ to carry out the powers specifically delegated to it by the constitution
Necessary and proper clause
Refers to the division of powers of government among the government’s different branches. A primary strategy of promoting constitutional or limited government by ensuring that no one individual or branch has excessive power that can be abused?
Separated powers
Refers to the legislative powers that are not completely separated between the branches of government?
Shared powers
An act of the legislature that inflicts punishment on an individual or group without a judicial trial?
Bill of attainder
Refers to a law that criminalizes an act that was not a crime when committed, that increases the penalty for a crime after it was committed, or that changes the rules of evidence to make conviction easier?
Ex post facto
To formally withdraw from an alliance, federation, or association by a constituent member?
Secede
States that the constitution, laws passed by congress, and treaties of the united states “shall be the supreme law of the land” and binding on the states?
Supremacy clause
Also known as a duty, a tax on imported or exported goods?
Tariff
Opponents to ratification of the u.s. Constitution who believed that it gave excessive power to the federal government and failed to protect the rights and liberties of the people
Anti-federalists
