AP US Gov Ch2 Vocab

amendment

a new provision in the Constitution that has been ratified by the states

Antifederalists

those who favor a weaker national government

Articles of Confederation

a weak constitution that governed America during and immediately after the Revolutionary War

bill of attainder

a law that declares a person, without trial, to be guilty of a crime

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the US Constitution

checks and balances

the power of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government to block some acts by the other two branches

coalition

an alliance of factions

concurrent powers

powers shared by the national and state governments

Constitutional Convention

meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution

enumerated powers

powers given to the national government alone

ex post facto law

a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed

faction

a group with a distinct political interest

federalism

government authority shared by national and state governments

Federalists

those who favor a stronger national government

Great Compromise

plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate with two members for each state

Habeas Corpus

an order to produce an arrested person before a judge

inalienable/unalienable

a human right based on nature or God (inability to be surrendered or taken away)

line-item veto

an executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

New Jersey Plan

proposal to create a weak national government

republic

a government in which elected representatives make the decisions

reserved powers

powers given to the state governments alone

separation of powers

constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government

Shay’s Rebellion

a 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

Virginia Plan

proposal to create a strong national government