chap 2 gov vocab

Republic

gov ruled by people’s reps

Articles of Confederation

13 states hold most power, weak national gov

League of Friendship

no new land w/o all states’ ok, 1 vote/state

Unicameral

1 house legislature, 7 delegates/state but 1 vote total

Annapolis Convention

states didn’t care about national gov, wanted independence

Shay’s Rebellion

Mass uprising, no national military to stop debt unrest

Constitutional Convention

fix Articles of Confederation

Virginia Plan

3 branches, bicameral, rep by population (big states > power)

New Jersey Plan

equal rep for all states regardless of size

Grand Committee

worked on compromise at convention

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

combined VA & NJ plans, House = pop, Senate = equal rep

Bicameral

two-house legislature

3/5 Compromise

slaves counted as 3/5 person for rep

Compromise of Importation

no slave trade restriction until 1808

Escaped slaves

must be returned despite state laws

Separation of Powers

no branch has more power than others

Checks & Balances

branches check each other’s power

Federalism

shared power national + state gov

Legislative Branch

makes laws

Enumerated Powers

powers given to Congress explicitly

Elastic Clause

Congress can do what’s necessary to carry out powers

Implied Powers

not explicit but assumed

Executive Branch

enforces laws

Veto

president rejects law, Congress can override w/ 2/3 vote

Judicial Branch

interprets laws, Supreme Court

Supremacy Clause

national laws/treaties supreme over states

Amendment

official change to Constitution, hard to do

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments, protect rights

Ratification

states approve Constitution or amendments (majority or 3/4)

Federalists

want strong central gov

Antifederalists

want strong state gov

Brutus 1

large republic too powerful, reps act selfishly

Federalist Papers

85 essays supporting Constitution

Faction

self-interest groups harming others’ rights

Impeachment

Congress can remove president for crimes

Writ of Habeas Corpus

right to know charges if detained

Bills of Attainder

no punishment w/o trial

Ex Post Facto Laws

no punishing after the fact