AP GOV Chapter 2

mercantalism

an economic theory designed to increase a nation’s wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade

Stamp Act Congress

meeting of representatives of nine of the thirteen colonies held in NYC in 1765, during which representatives drafted a document to send to the king that listed how their rights has been violated

committees of correspondence

organizations in each of the American colonies to keep colonist abreast of developments with the British service as powerful

First Continental Congress

meeting held in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in which 56 delegates (from every colony except Georgia) adapted a resolution in opposition to the coercive acts

Second Continental Congress

meeting that convened that an army would be raised and George Washington of Virginia would be commander in chief

Declaration of Independence

a document drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that proclaimed right of Americans to separate from Britain

Articles of Confederation

the compact between the thirteen colonies that created a loose league of friendship, with the national government drawing the power form the states

confederation

type of government in which the national government derives its powers from the state; a league of independent states

Shays’s Rebellion

a rebellion in which an army of 1500 disgruntled and angry farmers led by Daniel Shays marched to Springfield, Massachusetts and forcibly restrained the state court form foreclosing mortgages in their farms

constitution

a document establishing the structure, functions, and limitations of a government

Virginia Plan

The first general plan for the constitution offer in Philadelphia. Its key points were a bicameral legislature, as well an executive and judiciary chosen by national legislature

New Jersey Plan

a framework for the constitution proposed by a group for a small state. Its key points were a one-house legislature which had one vote for each state, a Congress with ability to raise revenues, and a supreme court with appointed members

Great Compromise

the final decision of Constitutional Convention to create a two-house legislature, with a lower housed elected by the people and with powers divided between the two houses Made national law supreme

Three-Fifths Compromise

an agreement reached at the constitutional convention to created that each slave would be counted as 3/5 of a person from the purposed of the representative in the House of Representatives

separation of powers

a way of dividing the power of government among legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each staffed separately, with equality and independence of each branch ensured by constitution

checks and balances

constitutionally mandated structure that gives each of the three branches of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the other branches

federal system

system of government in which the national government shares power and derive all Authority from the people

enumerated powers

the powers of the national government specially granted in article 1, section 8 of the constitution

necessary and proper clause

final paragraph of article 1, section 8, gives Congress to do anything (pass laws) that are “necessary and proper” to carry out enumerated powers in constitution called elastic clause

implied powers

powers of national government derived from the enumerated powers and necessary and proper clause

full faith and credit clause

section of Article 4 of the Constitution that ensures judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in any other state

supremacy clause

portion of Article 6 of Constitution mandating that national law is supreme to (that is, supersedes) all other laws passed by the states or by any other subdivision of government

Federalists

those who favored a stronger national government and supported to propose U.S. Constitution, later became first US political party

Anti-Federalists

those who favored strong state government and a weak national gov, opposed ratification of the US Constitution

The Federalist Papers

A series of 85 political essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of constitution

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the US Constitution, which largely guarantee specific rights and liberties