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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?Â
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
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