Key Concepts of the U.S. Constitution and Government Structure

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Limited Government

A governing body whose power exists only within predefined limits set by a constitution or other source of authority.

Representative Democracy

A type of democracy where elected officials represent a group of people.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which established a national government with limited powers.

Congress

The abilities granted to _______ , including conducting foreign affairs, regulating coin value, establishing post offices, and managing disputes between states.

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

Inability to tax, regulate commerce, enforce laws, and the requirement for unanimous approval from all states for legislation.

Achievements of Articles of Confederation

Included the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the Land Ordinance of 1785, which facilitated western expansion and state admission.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Established a system for surveying and selling western lands primarily in the Northwest Territory to generate revenue.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Outlined a process for governing the Northwest Territory, admitting new states, and prohibited slavery in the area.

Treaty of Greenville

Signed in 1795 to end the Northwest Indian War, establishing peace between the U.S. and Native American tribes.

Greenville Line

A boundary established by the Treaty of Greenville separating Native American areas from areas for American settlement.

Social Impact of Revolution - Women

The concept of 'republican motherhood' elevated women's roles in society, emphasizing their responsibility to raise respectful children.

Social Impact of Revolution - Blacks

________ joined the British army for promises of freedom, leading to gradual abolition in Northern states and increased slavery in the South.

Shays' Rebellion

A violent revolt in Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787 caused by a monetary debt crisis, highlighting weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

General 'Mad Anthony' Wayne

The U.S. general who represented the United States in the Treaty of Greenville.

Native American Tribes Represented

The Miami, Delaware, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, and Shawnee tribes were involved in the Treaty of Greenville.

Annapolis Convention

Held September 11-14, 1786, aimed to construct uniform parameters to regulate trade between states during a time of strain, highlighting the need for a stronger federal government.

Constitutional Convention

To address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation, resulting in a Constitution that established a federal government with specific powers.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for a strong central government presented to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, advocating for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 advocating for a unicameral legislature where each state would be equally represented, protecting the interests of smaller states.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Agreement made in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention that established a two-house Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

3/5 Compromise

Agreement made in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention stating that enslaved people would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining state population.

Commercial Compromise

Agreement made during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that established Congress' power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, while prohibiting the taxation of imports.

Checks-and-balances

System of overlapping powers that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful, allowing one branch to limit another's power.

Separation of powers

Constitutional principle dividing government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, each with its own responsibilities.

Federalism

System of government dividing power between a central government and regional governments, where both share power and the central government monitors outcomes.

Executive Branch

Part of the federal government responsible for conducting relations with foreign governments and enforcing laws.

Legislative Branch

Part of the federal government responsible for making laws.

Judicial Branch

Part of the federal government responsible for interpreting laws.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two houses, as proposed in the Virginia Plan.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislature with one house, as advocated in the New Jersey Plan.

Roger Sherman

Proposed the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention.

Oliver Ellsworth

Proposed the name 'United States' during the Constitutional Convention.

James Madison

Wrote the Virginia Plan and is known as the 'Father of the Constitution'.

William Paterson

Presented the New Jersey Plan at the Constitutional Convention.

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to formerly enslaved people.

Interstate Commerce

Trade and other commercial activities that cross state lines, regulated by Congress as per the Commercial Compromise.

Slave Trade

Congress could not interfere with the _________ ___________ for at least 20 years as per the Commercial Compromise.

Proportional Representation

Representation in the legislature based on the population of each state, as proposed in the Virginia Plan.

loose construction/the elastic clause

interpreting more broadly, Congress can use powers not stated in the Constitution explicitly, if needed to carry out their duties

strict construction

interpreting Constitution narrowly, Congress can only exercise power explicitly stated in the Constitution.

Elastic clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

allows Congress to make laws not specifically mentioned in the Constitution to carry out enumerated powers.

delegated powers

powers the Constitution specifically gives to Congress

reserved powers

powers states have under the 10th amendment of the Constitution.

concurrent powers

powers shared by national and state governments

Bill of Rights

States first ten amendments→ wrote by James Madison

Congress - powers

Power to tax, spend, borrow money, regulate commerce, declare war, establish citizenship, establish post offices and roads, promote progress of science and arts

President - powers

Power to make treaties with approval of senate, veto bills and sign bills, represent the nation in talks with foreign countries, enforce laws congress passes, act as commander in chief during times of war, call out troops to protect against attack

Supreme Court - powers

Power to judicial review: declare laws or actions by other branches unconstitutional

E Pluribus Unum

Latin phrase that means 'One of many'

Federalists

Saw Articles of Confederation was weak, Constitution as way to prevent a tyrant from taking power

Antifederalists

group of people opposing ratification of Constitution in 1787

Beard's Thesis

idea that the US Constitution was written by wealthy landowners to protect their economic standing and maintain power.

The Federalist Papers

collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, under the pseudonym Publius

Federalist #10

main point is that a strong federal government can protect liberty because it guards against the dangers of control by a narrow interest.

Alexander Hamilton

Founding Father of U.S, Soldier, lawyer, scholar, economist, congressmen and first U.S Secretary of Treasury

James Madison

Slave owner and planter, inquisitive and studious, often ill

John Jay

First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

Ratification of the Constitution

Ratified 1788, Required approval of 9 out of 13 original states