Studied by 1 personConstitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
republic
a government ruled by the representatives of the people
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
a governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the national government, were supreme
Shay's Rebellion
a popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts
constitutional convention
a meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation
writ of habeas corpus
the right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them
Bills of attainder
when the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial
ex post facto law
a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed
The Virginia Plan
a plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress
New Jersey Plan
a plan of government that provided for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state
Great (Connecticut) Compromise
an agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans; it settled issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and a Senate apportioned equally
unicameral
One-house legislature
bicameral
Two house legislature
3/5 Compromise
an agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention where for every 5 slaves 3 would count as part of the population in order to determine representation in Congress and taxation.
Compromise on Importation
Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808
Right to trial by jury
Article 3, Section 2
two witnesses must be present or confess to a judge over acts of treason
Article 3, Section 3
Grand Committee
a committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation
separation of powers
a design of government that distributes powers across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own
Checks and Balances
a design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy
federalism
the sharing of power between the national government and the states
Legislative branch
the branch of government that makes the laws
Expressed/Enumerated Powers
Powers specifically granted to a branch of the government by the Constitution.
elastic cause (necessary and proper clause)
statement from article I of US constitution granting congress the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out enumerated powers (administrative law).
implied powers
powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution
Executive branch
the branch of government that carries out laws
Judicial branch
the branch of government that interprets laws
Supremacy clause
The constitutional provision that makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws.
amendment
the process by which changes may be made to the Constitution
federalists
supporters of the Constitution and of a strong national government
anti-federalists
those opposed to the proposed constitution, who favored stronger state governments
federalist papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
Federalist no. 51
an essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny
faction
a group of self-interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process
federalist no. 10
an essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government
Brutus no. 1
an Antifederalist Paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government
Note
Flashcard