Chapt 2 AP GOV

Republic

A government in which people elect representatives to carry out their wishes

unicameral

Having a one-house legislature

Grand Committee

A committee at the constitutional convention that worked out the compromise on the representation

Writ of Habeas Corpus

The right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them 

Articles of Confederation

Specific incidents and legal challenges that highlighted key weaknesses of the AOC

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in western massachusetts in opposition to high taxation and insufficient economic policies that exposed concern over the weaknesses of the national government under the AOC

U.S Constitution

Provides a blueprint for a unique form of democratic government in the united states

Faction

A party or group that is often contentious or self-seeking

New Jersey Plan

It favored smaller states by advocating for a unicameral legislature with equal state representation, giving every state one vote, while expanding federal powers to tax and regulate commerce

Virginia Plan

a 1787 proposal drafted by James Madison for a strong national government with three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) and a two-house legislature where state representation was based on population

Great (Connecticut) compromise

Created a duel (bicameral) system of congressional representation with the house of representatives based on each state’s population and the Senate representing each state equally

Legislative Branch

The institution responsible for making laws

Separation of powers

Specific and separate powers delegated to Congress, the president, and the courts allow each branch to check and balance the power of other branches

Checks and Balances

Allow legal actions to be taken against public officials deemed to have abused their power

Federalism

The system of government in the USA in which power is shared between the national and state governments

Federalist

Supported ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government

Anti-federalist

Opposed the ratification of the constitution and wanted more power reserved to the state governments rather than a strong central government

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name “Publius” explaining why states should ratify the Constitution

Bill of rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns about the lack of basic liberties

Executive Branch

The institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch

Judicial branch

The institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases through the federal courts

Bills of Attainder

Legislative acts that declare people guilty and impose people without a trial

3/5s Compromise

Provided a formula for calculating a state’s enslaved population for purposes of representation in the House and for taxation

Compromise on Importation

The importation of slaves, but not slavery itself, was banned after 1808.

Brutus No. 1

Adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small, decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government

Federalist 10

Focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government

Ex post facto law

Laws that punish people for acts that were not crimes at the time that they were committed 

Bicameral

Having a two-house legislature

Ratification

The act of consenting to the US constitution through the state ratification conventions

Amendment

A formal change made to the constitution 

Enumerated Powers

Written in the constitution

Reserved Powers

Those not delegated or enumerated to the national government but are reserved to the states

Concurrent Powers

Shared between both levels of government

Elastic Cause

Gives congress the power to make laws related to carrying out its enumerated powers, but supreme court interpretations can influence the extent of these powers

Implied Powers

Authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers

Supremacy clause

Gives the national government and its laws general precedence over state laws

constitutional convention

A meeting of delegates from the several states in 1787 intended to revise the Articles of Convention and ultimately drafted the US constitution in establishing a stronger central government

Federalist 51

Explains how constitutional provisions of separation of powers and checks and balances control potential abuses by majorities

Electoral college

Created a system for electing the president by electors from each state rather than by popular vote or by congressional vote

Impeachment

The house formally charges an official with abuse of power or misconduct

Removal (impeachment process)

If the official is convicted in a senate impeachment trial