Waples, American Government: Stories of a Nation for the AP® Course, 1e, Chapter 2

constitution

A document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government.

republic

A government ruled by representatives of the people

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

A governing document that created a union of 13 sovereign states in which the states, not the national government were supreme.

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It was a confederal government where there were many limitations of power including:

* Could not force states to carry out its policies
* Had the ability to raise army/navy, but had no funding. In order to gain funding they must ask the states for it, but they usually declined
* No judicial branch, no way to resolve state disputes

unicameral

A one-house legislature

Shay’s Rebellion

A popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the articles of confederation

writ of habeas corpus

the right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them

bills of attainder

When the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial

ex post facto laws

Law punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

Virginia Plan

A plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress.

New Jersey Plan

A plan of government that provided for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each states.

Grand Committee

A committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

This compromise solved the first and largest issue of the AoC, distribution of power to the states. An agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans; it settled issues of state representation bu calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and a Senate apportioned equally.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement reached by delegates at the Constitutional Convention that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person in calculating a state’s representation

Compromise on Importation

Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808

separation of powers

A design of government that distributes powers across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own.

Checks and balances

A design of government in which each branch has power that can prevent the other branches from making policy.

Federalism

the sharing of power between the national government and the states

Expressed or enumerated powers

Authority specifically granted to a branch of the government in the Const

Amendment

The process by which changes may be made to the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

Those opposed to the proposed constitution, who favored state’s having more power

Necessary and Proper or Elastic Clause

Language in Article I, Section 8, granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.

Implied Powers

Authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers

Executive branch

The institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch

legislative branch

The institution responsible for making laws

Judicial Branch

the institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases through the fed cases

Federalists

Supporters of the proposed constitution, who called for a strong national government.

Faction

A group of self-interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process.

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Inequality of wealth is the main cause of factions

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-federalist Paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government.

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* the country is too large to be governed as a republic
* reps will not voluntarily give up power

Who supported the Articles of confederation?

More people in rural areas, farmers and shopkeepers. Leadership included educated elites, revolutionary war heroes and convention delegates. Also including small and southern states.

Why did people oppose the drafting of the new Constitution?

Anti-federalists opposed the drafting of the Constitution because they feared a stronger government, leaving the states with no say, tyranny. They were concerned for the rights of the people and the states. (Brutus No.1).

Also southern states feared that slavery would be outlawed if a new govt. was created. While small states feared of their representation being taken away, because in the AoC all states were given one vote.

What event started the drafting of the Constitution

Shay’s Rebellion took place in MA, Daniel Shay and other military leaders angry from the lack of a stronger govt who couldn’t pay soldiers and vets, who were struggling to pay their debts. The govt could not stop the rebellion because of the lack of an army, meaning the govt must ask the states for money to raise a militia in order to stop the rebellion.

What issues were discussed at the Philadelphia Convention?

The two main issues discussed were representation of the states and where should the power of the government be handed too? They also debated on slavery, trade, and commerce.

Describe the process of an Amendment

1. the amendment must be officially proposed, which can only happen two ways


1. passage by a two-thirds cote in both houses
2. passage in a national convention called at the request of two-thirds of states.
2. After proposing the amendment must ratified by a majority vote of three-fourths of the state legislature or state ratifying conventions.

supremacy clause

constitutional provision stating that the Const. and all fed laws are the supreme law of the land. (constitutional provisions establish govt authority, doesn’t structure the govt)

Federalist No. 51

an essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny

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* The govt must control the governed and must control itself
* Checks and balances will prevent one branch from becoming too powerful and taking away liberty

Federalist No.10

An essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of factions can be mitigated by a large republic and republican govt.

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* factions are self-interested groups that would harm the community
* factions are sown into the nature of humankind
* abolish factions = abolish liberty
* factions should be set against each other to prevent any one faction from becoming too powerful
* A large republic protects any danger from factions

bicameral

a two house legislature