Flashcards on the Federal Constitution and the Constitutional Convention

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the Federal Constitution and the Constitutional Convention.

Federal Constitution

The supreme law of the land in the United States.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to draft the Constitution.

Federal Constitution

The supreme law of the land in the United States.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to draft the Constitution.

Federalists

Proponents of a stronger central government during the Constitutional Convention.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of a stronger central government, favoring limited powers.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for equal representation of each state in the legislative assembly.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for representation dependent on the wealth and population of each State.

Connecticut Compromise

The solution adopted for a bicameral Congress with equal representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House.

Three-Fifths Compromise

The agreement that slaves would count as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

Sherman Compromise

A plan for federalism that distributes power between the states and central government.

Checks and Balances

A system to monitor and prevent abuse of power among the branches of government.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution designed to protect individual rights.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of laws.

Impeachment

The process by which a sitting president or federal official can be removed from office for misconduct.

Ratification

The official way to confirm something, usually by vote, such as the ratification of amendments to the Constitution.