ap gov the constitution vocab

anti- federalists

opponents of the constitution during its debate

bill of rights

the first ten amendments of the constitution; a statement of fundamental rights and privileges

checks and balances

system of divided spheres of authority provided by the constitution as a mean of controlling powers of gov't

confederation

an alliance of groups or people allowing each member to govern itself but agreeing to work together for common causes

constitution

the document of the fundamental law that defines how a gov't will legitimately operate

enumerated powers

the seventeen powers granted to the national gov't in the US constitution

federal system

a system of gov't in which the same territory is controlled by two powers of gov't

federalists

supporters of the constitution during its debate

full faith and credit clause

in the US constitution; states must give full credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states

great compromise

agreement from the constitutional convention to create a 2-chamber congress w/the house by population and the senate equally by state

implied powers

the authority of the federal gov't to take action not expressed in the constitution but that supports authorized actions

necessary and proper clause

the authority of the federal gov't to make all laws "necessary and proper" for the implementing of its enumerated powers

new jersey plan

proposal to create a weak national gov't

separation of powers

sharing of constitutional authority by multiple branches of gov't

shay's rebellion

a 1787 rebellion in which ex-revolutionary war soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

social contract

an unofficial agreement shared by everyone in a society in which they give up some freedoms for security

social contract theory

people live together in society in accordance w/an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior

supremacy clause

federal constitution and law generally take importance over state laws and state constitutions

three- fifths compromise

every enslaved american would be counted as 3/5's of a person for taxation and representation purposes

virginia plan

proposal to create a strong national gov't

plato

"The Republic"

thomas hobbes

"Leviathan"

john locke

"Two Treatises of Civil Government"

charles de montesquieu

"On the Spirit of Laws"

jean-jacques rousseau

"Social Contract"