Unit 1: Foundations of the United States Government

Vocabulary flashcards covering the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the U.S. Constitution and the various compromises made during the Constitutional Convention.

Articles of Confederation

The first government system of the United States characterized by a weak federal government where states retained their sovereignty.

Unicameral congress

A single-house legislative branch under the Articles of Confederation that lacked the ability to tax or regulate trade between states.

Shays' rebellion

An event that signaled the need for a stronger central government to improve upon federal power.

Federalist

Individuals, such as Alexander Hamilton, who felt that a strong central government was necessary for the country.

Constitutional convention

A gathering where representation was heavily debated regarding how citizens should be represented in the new government system.

Great compromise

An agreement that established a bicameral system consisting of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Bicameral system

A two-house government structure created to balance representation between the states.

House of representatives

The lower house of the bicameral system where representation is determined based on population.

Senate

The upper house of the bicameral system designed to provide equal representation for all states.

Anti federalists

Those who opposed the Constitution and would only agree to sign if civil liberties were protected through a bill of rights.

Ratification

The formal process of approval required for the Constitution to be implemented.

Bill of rights

An addition to the Constitution required for agreement and ratification to ensure the protection of civil liberties.

Three fifths compromise

An agreement where slaves were counted as three fifths of a person for the purposes of taxation and representation.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful by giving each branch specific powers to check the others.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution, that elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

Supremacy Clause

A clause in the Constitution that establishes federal law as the supreme law of the land, overriding conflicting state laws.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution.

Amendments

Official changes or additions to the Constitution that require a specific process for ratification.

Limited Government

A principle that mandates that government powers are restricted by law, ensuring individual rights are protected.

Popular Sovereignty

The doctrine that a government's legitimacy is created by the will or consent of its people.

Social Contract

An implicit agreement among individuals to form a government that provides protection and social order in exchange for some individual freedoms.

Majority Rule

A decision-making principle that dictates that a majority of votes determines the outcome of governance.

Individual Rights

The liberties and privileges that belong to individuals, which governments are obliged to protect.

Political Equality

The principle that all citizens have equal access to political power and decision-making.

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens directly participate in decision-making processes.

Republicanism

A political ideology centered on the concept of a republic, where representatives are elected to govern on behalf of the citizenry.

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals and government officials are accountable under the law.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is justified and lawful only when consented to by the people.