AP Gov Chapter 2 Vocab

Compromise on Importation

allowed Congress to not restrict the slave trade until 1808

Separation of Powers

the design of government that distributes powers across institutions to avoid concentration of power

Checks and Balances

system that allows each branch of government to prevent the others from making policy

Federalism

The term that describes the sharing of power between the national government and the states

Legislative Branch

branch of government is responsible for making laws

Executive Branch

branch of government that carries out laws passed by the legislative branch

Judicial Branch

branch of government hears and decides cases through the federal courts

Amendment

a formal change made to the Constitution

Federalists

the supporters of the proposed Constitution advocating for a strong national government

Anti Federalists

opposed the proposed Constitution and favored stronger state governments

Federalist Papers

the essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay that outline the theory behind the Constitution

Federalist 51

addresses Separation of Powers and checks and balances

Federalist 10

argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic

faction

A group of self-interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others.

Brutus 1

An Anti-Federalist paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government.

US Constitution

document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance in the U.S.

Republic

a government in which people elect representatives to carry out their wishes

Articles of Confederation

the governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states

Unicameral

Having a one-house legislature.

Shays's Rebellion

An uprising by debtors against the government of Massachusetts.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

The right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them.

Bills of Attainder

Legislative acts that declare people guilty and impose punishment without a trial.

Ex Post Facto Law

Laws that punish people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a bicameral legislature based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Grand Committee

A committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

An agreement to create a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and a Senate apportioned equally.

Bicameral

Having a two-house legislature.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that one enslaved person would count as 3/5 of a person in calculating a state's representation.