Constitution Study Guide 2024

Constitution Study Guide 2024

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1777 by the Continental Congress.

Northwest Ordinance

law ratified by Congress on July 13, 1787, that established a three-step legal path for new territories to become a state equal to the original 13 states.

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising in Western Massachusetts and Worcester in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes.

Constitution

The basic beliefs and laws of a nation, state, or social group.

Bicameral

A system of government in which the legislature comprises two houses.

Unicameral

A system of government in which the legislature comprises of a single chamber.

Virginia Plan

Called for the creation of a supreme national government with three branches. It became the foundation of the Constitution of the United States.

New Jersey Plan

Called for the creation of a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Great Compromise (AKA the Connecticut Compromise)

Offered by Connecticut delegates to solve the dispute between small and large states over the apportionment of representation in the new federal government.

⅗ Compromise

Agreement reached during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention over the inclusion of slaves in a state's total population.

Alexander Hamilton

New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention. One of the major authors of the Federalist Papers, and the first secretary of the treasury of the United States.

James Madison

Created the basic framework for the U.S. Constitution and helped write the Bill of Rights. Additionally, he was the 4th President of the USA.

Federalists

The Federalists were a group of people who supported the creation of a stronger central government.

Anti Federalists

The Anti-Federalists were a group of people who were against the creation of a stronger central government.

Ratify

To give formal consent to a treaty, contract, or an agreement making it official.

Bill of Rights

The first of ten amendments to the Constitution was written by James Madison.

Checks and Balances

Letting each branch of the US government exercise certain powers that can be checked by the powers given to other branches.

Executive Branch

The branch including the President, executes the law of the land.

Legislative Branch

Responsible for making laws, made up of two chambers, the House and the Senate.

Judicial Branch

Includes the Supreme Court. Jobs include checking whether laws are legal.

Veto

Legal power to stop an official action.

Impeachment

A vote to remove an elected official for 'treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.'

Override

To reject or cancel using authority.

Amendment

A minor change or addition designed to improve a piece of legislation.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States of America.

Congress

Part of the Legislative Branch contains 2 bodies Senate and House.

Senate

Part of the Legislative Branch.

House of Representatives

Part of the Legislative Branch.

Amendment 1

You have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly (aka protest), and freedom of petition.

Amendment 2

The right to bear arms.

Amendment 3

Government can't force you to let soldiers live in your house.

Amendment 4

No unreasonable searches.

Amendment 5

You can't be forced to testify against yourself, and can't be punished without being found guilty.

Amendment 6

Right to a speedy and public trial. Right to a jury. Right to know what you're accused of.

Amendment 7

Right to a jury even when it's a civil case.

Amendment 8

No cruel or unusual punishment.

Amendment 9

Just because it isn't listed in the Bill of Rights, doesn't mean that you don't have other rights.

Amendment 10

If the Constitution doesn't give a power to congress, then that power belongs to the states.