Unit 3- Forming a New Nation

Articles of Confederation

the first written plan of government for the United States. A confederation is an association of states that cooperate for a common purpose.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of ratifying the U.S. Constitution.

Federalists

Supporters of ratifying the U.S. Constitution.

Constitution

a written plan that provides the basic framework of a government

Constitutional Convention

a meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 at which delegates from the states wrote the U.S. Constitution

Electoral College

The group established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president. Voters in each state choose their electors.

Enlightenment

The "Age of Reason" in the 17th- and 18th- century Europe. Enlightenment thinkers emphasized using rational thought to discover truths about nature and society.

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay that were published in NY newspapers and used to convince readers to adopt the new U.S. Constitution

Great Compromise

The plan of government adopted at the Constitutional Convention that established a two-house Congress.

Senate

One of the two houses of Congress. The USA gives each state 2 senators each.

House of Representatives

One of the two houses of Congress. Representatives are elected directly by the people, with the number of representatives for each state determined by the state's population

Northwest Ordinance

A law passed by Congress in 1787 that specified how western lands would be governed

Northwest Territory

a region of the United States bounded by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the Great Lakes. The region was given to the United States by the Treaty of Paris in 1787

Ratify

to formally approve a plan or agreement. The process of approval is called ratification.

Republic

a country governed by elected representatives

Three-Fifths Compromise

an agreement made at the Constitutional Convention stating that enslaved persons would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state's population for representation in the House of Representatives

Checks and Balances

The system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other two branches.

Executive Branch

the part of government that carries out, or executes, the laws

Federalism

the constitutional system that shares power between the national and state governments

interest group

an organization that actively promotes the view of some part of the public on specific issues in order to influence government policy

interstate commerce

trade and other business dealings between two or more states

Judicial Branch

the part of the government, consisting of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, that interprets the laws

Judicial Review

the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether laws and acts made by the legislative and executive branches are unconstitutional

Legislative Branch

the law-making part of the government called the legislature. To legislate is to make a law.

majority rule

A basic principle of democracy that says laws are passed by majority vote and elections are decided by a majority of the voters

Popular Sovereignty

the idea that the government's authority comes from the people

Separation of Powers

a key constitutional principle that divides the functions of government among three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial, to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power

Tribal Sovereignty

The power of Indigenous tribes to govern themselves

Bill of Rights

a formal listing of the basic rights of U.S. citizens

Defendant

a person who is required to defend himself or herself in a legal action. An example is an accused person who is put on trial for a crime.

double jeopardy

putting a person on trial more than once for the same crime

Due Process

the concept that the government must follow clear rules and act reasonably as it carries out the law

self-incrimination

giving testimony that can be used against oneself

warrant

an order from a judge that authorizes police or other officials to take a certain action, such as searching someone's property