Government

13 original states

New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia

3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

No power to tax, regulate trade, and enforce laws

Magna Carta

the royal charter of political rights given to by jury and due rebellious English barons by King John in 1215; established that the power of the monarchy was not absolute and guaranteed trial by jury and due process of law to the nobility

Articles of Confederation

plan of government adopted by the Continental Congress after the American Revolution; established "a firm league of friendship" among the States, but allowed few important powers to the central government

petition of rights

Document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even the monarch was subject to the laws of the land

U.S. Constitution

"The supreme law of the land." Written in 1787 at Philadelphia Convention to replace Articles of Confederation and create stronger central government. Outlines structure & power of 3 branches of national government. Oldest written constitution still in use (but amended 27 times plus myriad informal amendments).

English Bill of Rights

document written by Parliament and agreed on by William and Mary of England in 1689, designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; forms the basis for much in American government and politics today

Anti-Federalists

persons who opposed the ratification of the constitution in 1787-1788

Federalists

persons who supported the ratification of the constitution in 1787-1788

Representative Government

system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections

Bi-cameral

legislative body composed of two chambers/houses (US Congress)

Framers

Group of delegates who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787

Confederation

A joining of several groups for a common purpose.

Limited Government

basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away

Slave Trade and Commerce Compromise

an agreement reached at the constitutional convention to protect slaveholders; it denied congress the power to tax the export of goods from any state and, for twenty years, denied congress the power to act on the slave trade

Declaration of Independence

Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state independent from Great Britain.

Ratification

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

US Constitution

is the supreme law of the United states. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nations first constitution

3/5 compromsie

That slaves counted for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation

Quorum

fewest number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business; majority