AP Gov Chapter 2

3/5th compromise

A compromise made during the Constitutional Convention where slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for districting in the House of Representatives

Amending the Constitution process

Way #1: 2/3 vote by the House and Senate, followed by ¾ vote of State Legislatures (38 states). Way #2: Constitutional Convention called by 2/3 state legislatures, followed by ¾ vote of State legislatures

amendment

a new provision in the Constitution that has been ratified by states

Anti

federalists

Articles of Confederation

a weak constitution that governed American during the Revolutionary War

Bicameral

two house legislative body

Bill of Attainder

a law that declares a person without a trial, to be guilty of a crime

Bill of Rights

first ten amendments to the Constitution

Checks and balances

authority shared by three branches of government

Coalition

an alliance of factions

Concurrent Powers

powers shared by the national and state governments

Constitution

a nation’s basic law

Constitutional Convention

meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution

Declaration of Independence

the document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence

Enumerated Powers

powers given to the national government alone

Ex post facto law

a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed

Faction

a group with a distinct political interests

Federalism

government authority shared by national and state governments

Federalist papers

written to create support for ratifying the Constitution

Federalists

those who favor a stronger national government

Great Compromise/Virginia Plan

plans to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state

Habeas corpus

an order to produce an arrested person before a judge

Implied Powers

powers derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause. These powers are not states specifically but are considered to be reasonably implied through the exercise of delegated powers

Judicial Review

the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Limited government

the power of government is restricted

Line item

veto

Mercantilism

an economic theory designed to increase a nation’s wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade

Natural Rights

rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke’s theories about government, and was widely accepted among America’s Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson echoed Locke’s language in drafter the Declaration of Independence

New Jersey Plan

proposal to create a weak national government

Ratification

formal approval

Republic

a government in which elected representatives make the decisions

Reserved Powers

powers given to the state governments alone

Separation of Powers

Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government

Shay’s Rebellion

a 1787 rebellion in which ex

Unalienable

a human right based on nature or God

Unicameral

a legislative body with one house or chamber

Virginia Plan

proposal to create a strong national government

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Chief justice Marshall established “judicial review” as a power of the SC. After the defeat of the 1800 election, President Adams appoints many Federalists to the federal courts, but the commissions were not delivered because new Secretary of State James Madison refused to deliver them & Marbury sued in the SC. The Court declared a portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional, thereby declaring the Court’s power to find acts of Congress unconstitutional