Declaration of Independence

Restates the philosophy of natural rights, and provides a foundation for popular sovereignty.

Natural rights

All people have certain rights that cannot be taken away.These include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Consent of the governed

When the people being governed agreed to be governed.

New Jersey Plan

It was a constitutional convention in 1787 and was that all states had equal votes. So smaller states are equal with bigger states.

1. Faction

A group of people united by one common goal or interest, normally through hate.

virgina plan

A moment for the government to have 3 branches

The great compromise

This compromise provided for a bicameral legislature, with representation in the House of Representatives according to population, and in the Senate by equal numbers for each state.

Writ of habeas corpus

A legal order that forces authorities to bring a person who has been arrested or imprisoned to court.

1. Checks and balances

the system established by the Constitution where each of the three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—has the power to limit or halt the actions of the other two branches, preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful and ensuring a balance of authority

Federalists

A group of individuals who came together in support of the new constitution.

Anti-Federalists

A group of individuals who opposed the ratification of the U.S Constitution in 1787

Bill of Rights

A formal declaration stating the freedom and rights of all citizens.

1. Equal Rights Amendment

A proposed armament that guaranteed the rights to all Americans citizens no matter the sex/race.

Marbury v. Madison

Marbury v. Madison (1803) established judicial review, the principle that the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional and void, making it a co-equal branch of government and the ultimate arbiter of constitutional law

John Locke

An English philiphor. He argued for Natural rights, liberty, property, and sovereignty.

3/5s Compromise

An agreement in 1787 where enslaved individuals were counted as ⅗’s of a person. This was for taxation and representatives in Congress

Brutus No. 1

A widely recognized Anti-Federalist essay arguing against the ratification of the U.S. constitution.

Federalist 10

To deal with problems you must have multiple groups' opinions.

Ex post facto

The power to make something a crime after the event. And to force punichment on that crime

Selective incorporation

A legal doctrine that uses the 14th amendment to apply the Bill of Rights to the states on a case-by-case basis.

1. Bicameral legislature

A legislative body that consists of 2 separate chambers/houses.

Ratification

A formal approval to an agreed-upon treaty/decision making it legally binding.

Amendments

a formal change or addition to the U.S. Constitution

1. Delegated/expressed/enumerated powers

Power specifically granted to the federal gov by the U.S. constitution.

Reserved powers

A power that the U.S. constitution neither delegates to the federal gov nor prohibits to the states.

1. Concurrent powers

Power that is shared between the federal government and the states

Implied powers

Government authorities not directly stated in the U.S. Constitution but inferred as necessary to carry out the constitutions explicitly listed power.

1. Electoral College

A body of people representing the states of the U.S., who formally cast votes for the president and vice president.

1. Constitutional Convention

A meeting for delegates to either draft a new constitution or revise an existing one.

Federalist 51

James Madison's defense of the U.S. Constitution's structure, arguing that a separation of powers and checks and balances are necessary to prevent government tyranny