2: Origins of American Government

information related to documents and people that influenced the creation of the US constitution

Limited Government

A system in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute.

Representative Government

A system of government in which people elect delegates to make laws and conduct government.

Separation of Powers

The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.

Magna Carta

A charter that provided the basis for the principle of limited government.

Mayflower Compact

A document the Pilgrims signed in 1620 that stands as the first example of many colonial plans for self-government.

Petition of Right

A document written in 1682 severely limiting the king's power.

English Bill of Rights

A document that set clear limits on what a ruler could and could not do. Ruler also did so with consent of representatives.

John Locke

Advocated idea of a social contract in which government powers are derived from people through their consent to be governed & in which government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

Colonial governments

set precedent for having a written constitution guaranteeing basic liberties & limiting power of the government; separation of powers too

Continental Congress

Congress acted as the central government for the colonies to carry on the Revolution (self-government)

Declaration of Independence

Set forth the principles the new nation would be based on; human liberty & consent of the governed

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States & government's main purpose was to deal with defense & foreign affairs ; it had a weak central government; an example of self-government & a written constitution

Ratified

Approved

Unicameral

One house legislature

Bicameral

Two house legislature

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Central government could not collect taxes

No executive branch

No Judicial branch (interstate disputes)

National Government could not regulate foreign or interstate commerce (trade)

Unanimous consent required for amendments

9 of 13 states needed to pass legislation

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Established rules for territories to become states & outlawed slavery; a strength of the Articles of Confederation

Interstate Commerce

trade among the states

Virginia Plan

Large state proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress

New Jersey Plan

Small state proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

Connecticut Compromise

Settled disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch; one house based on population or proportional representation & the other has 2 members from each state or equal representation

Federalists

favored a strong central government and ratification of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

favored a weaker central government and thus more power to the states; also argued inclusion of a Bill of Rights

Shay's Rebellion

caused many Americans to see the need for a stronger central government

Electoral College Compromise

Created a body of electors to choose the president and vice president.

3/5 Compromise

the decision at the Constitutional convention to count slaves as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of deciding the population and determining how many seats each state would have in Congress

Commerce (Trade) Compromise

Congress could oversee trade, not tax exports or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years