U.S. History — Constitution Notes Flashcards

A set of 35 vocabulary flashcards reviewing essential terms, key compromises, constitutional principles, branches of government, and constitutional amendments.

Articles of Confederation

America's first national government, which created a weak central government that could not tax citizens or enforce laws.

Northwest Ordinance of $1787$

A law under the Articles of Confederation that created a process for territories to become states and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising of Massachusetts farmers ($1786\text{--}1787$) protesting high taxes and debt, which demonstrated that the central government was too weak to maintain order.

Constitutional Convention

A $1787$ meeting in Philadelphia originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, where delegates instead created an entirely new Constitution.

George Washington

The military general and leader who served as the President of the Constitutional Convention in $1787$.

James Madison

A major contributor to the Constitution who is often called the 'Father of the Constitution'.

Benjamin Franklin

A delegate at the Constitutional Convention who helped encourage compromise among the states.

Virginia Plan

A plan favored by large states proposing that congressional representation be based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A plan favored by small states proposing equal representation for every state with $1$ vote per state.

Great Compromise

An agreement (also called the Connecticut Compromise) that established a bicameral Congress: the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation ($2$ senators per state).

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement counting $3$ out of every $5$ enslaved people for determining a state's population for representation and taxation.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who favored a stronger national government and stability.

Anti-Federalists

Critics of the Constitution who feared the national government would become too powerful and demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between the national government and state governments.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as taxing, making laws, and building roads.

Separation of Powers

The division of the federal government into three distinct branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government responsible for making laws, exemplified by Congress.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for enforcing laws, led by the President.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws, exemplified by the Supreme Court.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches.

Popular Sovereignty

The constitutional principle that the government gets its authority and power directly from the people.

Limited Government

The principle that government officials must obey the law and do not have unlimited power.

Rule of Law

The principle that everyone, including leaders and government officials, must obey the law.

Republicanism

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make laws and decisions for them.

Preamble

The opening section of the Constitution starting with 'We the People…' that sets forth the six major goals of the government.

Article I (1) of the Constitution

The section of the Constitution that establishes the Legislative branch (Congress).

Article II (2) of the Constitution

The section of the Constitution that establishes the Executive branch (President).

Article III (3) of the Constitution

The section of the Constitution that establishes the Judicial branch (Supreme Court and federal courts).

Article IV (4) of the Constitution

The section of the Constitution that outlines relations among the states.

Article V (5) of the Constitution

The section of the Constitution detailing the process for changing or amending the Constitution.

Article VI (6) of the Constitution

The Supremacy Clause establishing that the Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land.

Article VII (7) of the Constitution

The section of the Constitution outlining the ratification process required to approve the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first $10$ amendments to the U.S. Constitution that protect individual rights and liberties.

1st Amendment (*1 finger directly against your lips to remind yourself that free speech and expression come)

Protects five core freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment (*you have two arms)

Protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms

3rd Amendment (*"Three's a crowd," meaning you do not have to let extra people—specifically soldiers—crowd into your house.)

Restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent during peacetime.

4th Amendment (* "What are you looking FOUR?" to trigger the words search and seizure. The Four Walls: Think of the four walls of your home; the police need a warrant to enter and search those four walls.)

Protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants to be based on probable cause

5th Amendment (*I plead the fifth/5th)

Guarantees due process, protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy, and requires grand juries for capital crimes

Sixth Amendment (*speedy six - speedy=(f)ast - (f)ast trial (f)air lawyer)

Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, the right to legal counsel, and the right to confront witnesses in criminal cases

7th Amendment (*Think of being "lucky" to have a jury decide your civil lawsuit (disputes between people or businesses over money or property The $20 Rule / Civil Court: The 7th Amendment guarantees a jury trial in federal civil cases where the amount in controversy is more than $20.)

Guarantees the right to a jury trial in federal civil lawsuits involving property or money above a certain value

8th Amendment (*the number 8 looks like a pair of handcuffs, which reminds you of jail, bail, fines, and punishments.)

Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments

9th Amendment (*The easiest trick to remember the 9th Amendment is to picture holding up all your fingers except your thumb—the invisible thumb represents unwritten rights that you still have even though you cannot "see" them listed in the Constitution.)

Clarifies that people retain rights not explicitly listed in the Constitution

10th Amendment (*the letter J for "Just States" or holding up all 10 fingers to mean powers left to the states)

States that powers not granted to the federal government belong or are reserved to the states or the people.