APGOV chapter 2

Constitution

document that lays the principles of government and establishes institutions of government

republic

government ruled by representatives of the people

Articles of confederation

created a union of 13 sovereign states where states, not government, were supreme

unicameral

one house legislature

bicameral

two house legislature

shay’s rebellion

popular uprising against the government of massachusetts arguing for a new government

constitutional convention

meeting attended by state delegates to fix the AOC

writ of habeas corpus

allows people detained by government to know why theyre being held

bills of attainder

when legislature declares someone guilty without trial

ex post facto laws

laws punishing people for acts that werent crimes at the time of being committed

virginia plan

a three branch government with a bicameral legislature and more populous states had more representation in congress

new jersey plan

a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state

great compromise

a bicameral legislature with a house of representatives divided proportionately by population and a senate divided equally

seperation of powers

principle in which the powers of the government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial

checks and balances

system in which each branch of the government can limit the power of the other two branches

federalism

constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments

legislative branch

responsible for making laws, can override presidential veto, declares war, and issues impeachment

expressed/enumerated powers (legislative)

authority specifically granted to a branch of government in the constitution

necessary and proper/elastic clause (legislative)

article 1 section 8, allows congress to stretch its powers and creates implied powers(powers not explicitely listed in the constitution but are reasonable from the expressed/enumerated powers)

implied powers (legislative)

authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed/enumerated powers

executive branch

responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch led by the President

electoral college

used to elect president with citizens picking electors representing a president

judicial branch

responsible for interpreting laws jurisdiction (hearing and deciding if it violates constitution) led by the supreme court with federal courts

judicial review

power to decide on the constitutionality of laws and government actions; established by Marbury v. Madison

supremacy clause

declares the constitution and all national laws to be the supreme law of the land

federalists

supports the constitution who called for a stronger national government

antifederalists

opposed the constitution who called for stronger state governments

federalist papers

85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution

federalist no 51

madison arguing that seperation of powers will prevent tyranny

faction

a group of self interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling on the rights of others in the process

federalist no 10

madison arguing the dangers of factions can be fixed by a large republic and republican government

brutus no 1

antifederalists arguing the us was too large to be governed as a republic and the constitution gave too much power to the national government