AP Gov Unit 1 Ch 2 Vocab

Constitution

A document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government

Republic

A government ruled by representatives of the people

Articles of confederation and perpetual union

A governing document that created a union of 13 sovereign states in which the states, not the national government, worship supreme

Unicameral

A one house legislation

Shay's rebellion

A popular embracing 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 trail

Ex post facto laws

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

Virginia plan

A plan of government calling for a three branch government with a bicameral legislature, were more populous states would have more representation in Congress

New Jersey plan

A plan of government that provided for unicameral legislature with equal boats for each state

Grant committee

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

Great Compromise

An agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both the Virginia and New Jersey plans; it's settled issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives, apportioned proportionately, and a Senate apportion equally

Bicameral

A two house legislature

3/5 compromise

An agreement reach reached by delicates at a constitutional convention that a slave would count as 3/5 of a person in calculating a state representation

Compromise on Importation

Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808

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 institution responsible for making laws

Expressed or enumerated powers

Authority specifically granted to a branch of the government in the constitution

Necessary and proper or elastic clause

Language in article one, section 8, granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated power

Implied powers

Authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed power

Executive branch

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

Judicial branch

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

Supremacy clause

Constitutional provision, declaring that the constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land

Amendment

The process by which changes may be made to the constitution

Federalists

Supporters of the proposed constitution, who called for a strong national government

Anti-federalists

Those opposed to the proposed constitution, who favored stronger state governments

Federalist papers

A series of 85 essay written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay and published between 1787 and 1788 that layout the theory behind the constitution

Federalist number 51

An essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny

Faction

A group of self-interest people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process

Federalist number 10

An essay in which Madison argues that the dangers affection can be mitigated by a large republic and Republican government

Brutus number one

An anti-federalist paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the constitution gave too much power to a national government