U.S. Constitution, Founding Compromises, and Bill of Rights

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards summarizing key concepts, historical figures, constitutional compromises, landmark court decisions, and the Bill of Rights from the provided lecture notes.

Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court case that established judicial review, granting courts the power to declare legislative laws and executive acts unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden

Supreme Court cases that utilized implied powers and a broad review of economic affairs, establishing that federal rights exist even if not stated word-for-word in the Constitution.

Federalism

A system where government power is divided between national and state governments, with federal law serving as the supreme law of the land while states maintain leeway to govern themselves.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Checks and Balances

A constitutional system where each branch of government has legal mechanisms to check and limit the power of the other two branches.

Virginia Plan

The large-state proposal authored by James Madison that advocated for three branches of government with a bicameral legislature based on state population.

New Jersey Plan

The small-state proposal that agreed to three branches of government but requested a unicameral legislature where each state received equal representation.

Great Compromise

An agreement establishing a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on state population and a Senate with two senators per state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement allowing states to count 3/5ths of their slave population for congressional representation, while permitting the slave trade to continue for 20 years until 1808.

Federalists

A political faction led by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison that advocated for a strong federal government to address national problems.

Anti-Federalists

A political faction led by Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Thomas Jefferson that favored state power, individual initiative, free markets, and individual rights over a strong central government.

George Washington

The Virginian who presided as Chairman or President of the Constitutional Convention and partnered with James Madison to champion ratification in Virginia.

James Madison

Virginian known as the 'Father of the Constitution' who authored the Virginia Plan, kept detailed convention notes, and drafted the U.S. Bill of Rights.

John Marshall

The longest-serving Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1801-1835) who defined the Court's authority to determine if acts of Congress are constitutional.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

A document written by George Mason reiterating that basic human rights should not be violated by governments.

Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

A document written by Thomas Jefferson that outlawed established churches and government support for a favored religion.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted by James Madison using principles from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

First Amendment

The constitutional amendment protecting freedom of speech, religion, press, and petition.

Second Amendment

The constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to bear arms.

Third Amendment

The constitutional amendment that protects citizens against the quartering of soldiers in private homes.

Fourth Amendment

The constitutional amendment protecting individuals against unlawful search and seizure.

Fifth Amendment

The constitutional amendment protecting individuals against self-incrimination.

Sixth Amendment

The constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to a trial by jury in criminal cases and the right to counsel.

Seventh Amendment

The constitutional amendment guaranteeing a jury trial in civil cases.

Eighth Amendment

The constitutional amendment protecting individuals against excessive bail or punishment.

Ninth Amendment

The constitutional amendment stating that U.S. citizens retain additional rights beyond those explicitly listed in the Constitution.

Tenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment specifying that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or to the people.