Constitutional Foundations: From Articles to the Constitution

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms and concepts from the lecture on American constitutional foundations, including government limits, representation, major plans and compromises, ratification, and evolution toward democracy.

Limited government

A government whose powers are restricted by the constitution to protect individual rights and prevent oppression.

Representative government

A system where the people govern through elected representatives who make decisions on their behalf.

Separation of powers

Dividing government into distinct branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent the concentration of power.

Checks and balances

A system where each branch can limit the powers of the others to maintain a balance of power.

Constitution

The fundamental framework that defines powers, divides them among institutions, and establishes representative government and rule of law.

Articles of Confederation

America’s first constitution; a weak central government with no power to tax, no independent judiciary, and a unicameral legislature.

Shays’ Rebellion

A 1786-1787 uprising in Massachusetts by distressed farmers highlighting weaknesses of the Articles and urging stronger national government.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting individual liberties and restricting government power.

Federalists

Supporters of the new Constitution who favored a strong central government and a stronger national framework.

Anti‑Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who feared central tyranny and demanded protections for states and individual rights (leading to the Bill of Rights).

James Madison

Key Federalist author of the Constitution; champion of a strong national framework and later defender of a bill of rights.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist leader who advocated for a strong national government and a robust economic framework.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for a bicameral Congress with representation by population, favoring larger states.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for a unicameral Congress with equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Agreement creating a bicameral Congress: House representation by population and Senate with two votes per state.

Three‑Fifths Compromise

Compromise counting slaves as three‑fifths of a person for both representation and taxation purposes.

Electoral College

System for selecting the president: states have a number of electors equal to their total Senate + House seats; winner typically wins all state electoral votes.

Ratification

The process of approving the Constitution by the states; required nine of thirteen states to win legitimacy.

Direct democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws themselves rather than through elected representatives.

Republic

A government focused on the rule of law and restrained majority power to prevent tyranny of the majority.

Federalism

A division of power between national and state governments, a central theme contested and evolving in U.S. history.

Seventeenth Amendment

Amendment (1913) establishing the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people, replacing state legislature selection.

Primary elections

Progressive-era reform allowing voters to nominate party candidates directly rather than through party conventions.

Notable presidential outcomes where the popular vote did not win the presidency

1876 (Hayes), 1888 (Harrison), 2000 (Bush), 2016 (Trump) – elections where the Electoral College winner differed from the popular vote.