AP Gov chapter 2 vocab

Anti-Federalists

opponents of the US Constitution at the time when states were contemplating its adoption

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the US adopted by Congress in 1777 and ratified in 1781. These established the continental Congress as the national legislature, but left most authority with the state legislatures

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-federalist concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties as freedom or religion, speech, and press, and they guarantee defendants’ rights.

Checks and Balances

Features of the constitution that require each branch of the federal government to obtain the consent of the others for its actions; they limit the power of each branch

Connecticut Compromise

The compromise reached at the constitutional convention that established two houses of Congress: The House of Representatives in which representation is based on a states population; and the Senate, in which each state has two reps

Consent of the Governed

The idea that government derives its authority from the people

Constitution

A nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. These can be either written or unwritten.

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

Equal Rights Amendment

A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of sex. The amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from ¾ of the state legislature.

Factions

Groups such as interest groups that according to James Madison, arise from the unequal distribution of property or wealth, and have the potential to cause instability in government

Federalist Papers

A set of 85 essays that advocate ratification of the Constitution and provide insightful commentary on the nature of the new system of government

Federalists

Supporters of the US Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and those of the executive branch are in accord with the U.S. constitution. This was established by Marbury v. Madison.

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 case in which the supreme court asserted its power to determine the meaning of the US Constitution. The decision established the court’s power of judicial review over acts of Congress

Natural rights

Rights inherent in human beings not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. This concept was central to John Locke’s theory of government and was widely accepted among America’s founders

New Jersey Plan

The proposal @ the Constitutional convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the size of the state’s population

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws

Separation of Powers

a feature of the constitution that requires the three branches of government-executive, legislative, and judicial- to be relatively independent of each other so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these three institutions.

Shay’s Rebellion

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farms led by Revolutionary War captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.

US Constitution

The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that set forth the institutional structure of the US government, the tasks these institutions perform, and the relationships among them. It replaced the A.O.C.

Virginia Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress to be proportional to its population

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A court order requiring authorities to explain to a judge what lawful reason they have for holding a prisoner in custody