Ethan Daniels Constitution Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, government plans and compromises, the branches of government, and constitutional principles from Ethan Daniels' lecture notes.

Articles of Confederation

The first set of laws for the United States where states kept their independence and powers not listed, formed a league of friendship, gave each state 2 to 7 representatives and 1 vote, and relied on states to provide taxes and militias.

Shay’s Rebellion

A 1786 uprising led by Daniel Shay and a group of poor farmers against high taxes, war debt, and farm foreclosures; it exposed the weakness of the federal government because Congress lacked a national army to stop it.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting of 55 delegates from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) held in Philadelphia from May to September 1787, led by George Washington, where leaders chose to discard the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger federal government.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal by William Paterson favoring small states that featured three branches of government, a unicameral (one house) Congress where each state received one vote, and executive power shared by a group.

Virginia Plan

A proposal by James Madison favoring larger states that featured three branches of government and a bicameral (two house) Congress where representation was based on population.

Great Compromise

A compromise combining the Virginia and New Jersey plans that established a two-part Congress: the House of Representatives with votes based on population, and the Senate with two votes per state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement between Northern and Southern states resolving congressional representation disputes by counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person toward a state's total population.

United States Constitution

The supreme law of the United States written in 1787 and put into effect in 1789, creating three branches of government, shared federal and state powers, federal currency, and checks and balances.

Preamble

The introductory statement of the Constitution that begins with 'We the People' and describes the main ideas and purposes of the government.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, created to protect individual liberties and ensure a system of checks and balances.

Constitutional Amendments

Changes or additions made to the Constitution; 17 have been added beyond the Bill of Rights to expand individual rights, clarify government structures, address social changes, and ensure fairness.

Delegated Powers

Powers granted specifically to the federal government, such as declaring war, raising armed forces, coining money, admitting new states, establishing post offices, and regulating foreign and interstate trade.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, including levying taxes, borrowing money, establishing courts, maintaining law and order, and providing for public welfare.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states or the people, such as establishing local governments, maintaining schools, conducting elections, creating corporate laws, and regulating intrastate business.

Executive Branch

The branch led by the president (who must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and a 14-year U.S. resident) responsible for enforcing laws, serving as Commander-in-Chief, managing foreign affairs, appointing federal judges, and signing or vetoing bills.

Impeachment

The process of bringing charges of wrongdoing against a government official; the House of Representatives votes to impeach by a majority, and the Senate conducts the trial.

Electoral College

A 538-member body (100 senators, 435 representatives, and 3 delegates from Washington, D.C.) that elects the president, requiring 270 electoral votes to win under a winner-take-all system in all states except Maine and Nebraska.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress consisting of 435 voting members apportioned by state population, who serve two-year terms without term limits and introduce bills and make laws.

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress consisting of 100 members (two per state) who serve six-year terms without term limits to craft laws, vote on bills, and serve on legislative committees.

Bicameral

A government legislature composed of two separate chambers or houses, specifically the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government headed by the Supreme Court that interprets the Constitution and federal laws and determines how laws apply to specific cases; its justices serve for life during good behavior.

Judicial Review

The power of the judicial branch to review actions of the other branches of government and decide whether laws, regulations, or executive acts violate the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

A constitutional system that prevents any single branch from becoming too powerful by allowing different branches to limit, review, or alter the actions of the other branches.

Separation of Power

The division of government responsibilities into three distinct branches (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) to prevent any single individual or group from holding total power.

Veto

The constitutional authority granted to an executive (such as the president, a governor, or a mayor) to reject and prevent a decision, bill, or plan from becoming law.