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1st Constitutional Convention
addressed the weaknesses of the Articles
2nd Constitutional Convention
a proposal made by some activists and academics to rewrite the Constitution
Shay’s Rebellion
A violent insurrection in the Massachusetts countryside during 1786 and 1787, Shays' Rebellion was brought about by a monetary debt crisis at the end of the American Revolutionary War. Although Massachusetts was the focal point of the crisis, other states experienced similar economic hardships.
accelerated calls to reform the Articles
Great Compromise
constitution
A nation's basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in a government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. 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.
natural rights
Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of _______ was central to English philosopher John Locke's theories about government and was widely accepted among America's Founders.
consent of the governed
The idea that government derives its authority from the people.
limited government
The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1777 and ratified in 1781. Established the Continental Congress as the national legislature, but left most authority with the state legislatures.
Shays's Rebellion
A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings. The nation's inability to handle the conflict led to concerns of the Articles.
U.S. Constitution
The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government, the tasks these institutions perform, and the relationships among them. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.
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.
New Jersey Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the size of the state's population.
Virginia Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress to be proportional to its population.
Great/Conecticut Compromise
The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, in which representation is based solely on a state's population; and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.
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.
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.
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.
republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
Federalists
Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.
Anti
Federalists
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.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." The amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from three
Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court asserted its power to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress.
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. Was established by Marbury v. Madison.
bicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
unicameral
A single
ex post facto law
a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed
line
item veto
amendment
A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law
federalism
the division and sharing of power between the national and state governments
bill of attainder
a law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime
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