Ch. 2 Reading Guide HW

may be different for your class

amendment

A formal change or addition proposed to a legal document or legislation, often requiring approval through a specific process. In the context of the U.S. Constitution, it refers to the changes made to the original document, enhancing or protecting rights.

Anti-Federalists

political faction opposing the Federalists, favoring a weak and small national government and supporting states rights

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States. It established a weak central government, granting most powers to the states. This framework led to challenges in governance, including issues with taxation, interstate commerce, and a lack of a strong executive.

Bill of Rights

first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution (protecting freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly; ensuring the right to bear arms; prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures; and guaranteeing rights in criminal prosecutions, including due process and trial by jury)

checks and balances

Constitutional ability of multiple branches of government to limit each other’s power (ex. Congress veto on President, and President veto on Congress bill)

Shay’s Rebellion

Rebellion in 1787 in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosure of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

Virginia Plan

The proposal to create a strong national government; favored large states; created by James Madison

New Jersey Plan

The proposal to create a weak national government; favored small states; created by William Paterson

republic

A government in which elected representatives make the decisions

enumerated powers

powers given only to the national government through the Constitution

reserved powers

powers given to state governments alone

concurrent powers

powers shared by/given to the state and national governments

faction

a group with a solidified, distinct political interest

Federalists

faction opposing the Anti-Federalists; favored a stronger national government than the state governments

habeas corpus

the requirement to produce an arrested person before a judge and a court

bill of attainder

an act of legislature that declares a person/group of people guilty of some crime without a trial

ex post facto law

a law making an act criminal even though the act was legal when it was committed

line-item veto

an executive’s ability to veto specific items in a bill without vetoing the entire bill

Electoral College

Citizens elect electors to put votes in the Electoral College for votes in the election

unalienable

unable to be taken away from or given away by the possessor

Three-Fifths Compromise

compromise made during the Conventional Convention favoring Southern states counted every slave as 3/5ths of a person

Anti-Federalists found the Constitution to centralize power too much; what did they favor instead?

they favored small government, individual liberties, and states rights.

How did Shay's Rebellion, and events like it, bring to light key weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation? 

Events like Shay’s Rebellion showed the problems with being unable to raise an army due to insufficient funds, lack of a national military, economic problems (high state taxes), and no executive branch leader to quickly respond to crises

Debates about self-government and local control led to an amendment process in Article V. What was the result of that debate?

The debate resulted in a system that allowed for flexibility through adaptation in making changes to the Constitution, federalism being maintained through how federal and state governments could contribute to amendments, and a protection of states’ rights