US History test

American government and formation

James Madison

father of the constitution considered to have the most influence on the constitution

Alexander Hamilton

1st secretary of the treasury under george washington - created the bank of the us established one of the first political parties federalists

Edmund rudolph

advocate against the new constitution (anti federalist) until a bill of rights was included then he switched his vote in favor of the new government 

Constitution

(1789) government of the United States (still used today) - the highest law of the nation. A three branch system of government (legislative, judicial, executive) of checks and balances

Constitutional convention

Virginia plan

 representation in congress (legislative branch) should be based on a state’s population - favored large states. 

BIcameral legislature

Two house legislature of Congress - Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house)

New Jersey plan

Representation in congress ( legislative branch) should be equal among the states

Unicameral legislature

One house legislature of Congress with an equal number of representatives

Commerce Compromise

 Congress was forbidden from taxxing a states exports or to take action against the slave trade for 20 years (1808)

Federalists

Members of one of the first political party who favored ratification (approval) of the constitution

Popular sovereignty

 vote of the people

Supremacy Clause

Article lV 4 of the constitution, makes the construction and federal laws superior to state laws. 

Federalism

System of government where authority is divided among federal, state and local governments

Legislative branch

(Congress) in charge of making laws

Executive branch

the position of the president who enforces laws

Judicial branch

(Federal Courts) decides whether or not the laws are constitutional