Unit 4: Road to the Constitution, Day 1

Constitution

The Supreme Law of the Land in the United States that sets up our structure of government; replaced the Articles of Confederation.

Consent

Permission or to agree

Government

The ruling authority of a nation

Majority

One more than half

Amendment

A change to the Constitution

Representative

Someone elected to make decisions on behalf of the people

Unalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away.

Convention

A formal meeting of a group of people

Ratification

To approve

New Jersey Plan

The William Paterson's proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

Virginia Plan

Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population

3/5 Compromise

the decision at the Constitutional convention to count slaves as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of deciding the population and determining how many seats each state would have in Congress.

Roger Sherman and the Great Compromise

Created a two house legislature; senate (upper house) two delegates and house of reps (lower house) depending on population

Federalism

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal (national) government and the states.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution who instead favored stronger state governments rather than the strong national government.

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the new Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

William Paterson

New Jersey representative at the constitutional convention who presented the New Jersey Plan, which gave equal representation to states regardless of size or population

James Madison

Virginia representative at the constitutional conventions who presented the Virginia Plan, which gave representation to states based on population. Called the "Father of the Constitution."

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States; was replaced the Constitution in 1788.

Constitutional Convention

The meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.

Massachusetts and Maine

States that had abolished slavery by the 1790 census. Favored the New Jersey Plan.

Virginia, Maryland, & South Carolina

States with the highest populations of enslaved peoples.

Bill of Rights, 1791

Popular term for the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The amendments protect rights for individuals and reserve power to the states. Demanded by the Anti-Federalists at the Constitutional Convention.

Federal

national

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Legislative Branch

A group of people who have the power to make laws

Congress

the legislature of the United States government made up of the House of Representatives & Senate

Judicial Branch

Branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly. The Supreme Court is part of this branch.

Executive Branch

the branch of government that enforces or carries out laws. The President is part of this branch.