Articles of Confederation
The nations first constitution, adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781, uniting all thirteen states.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created the Northwest Territory (area north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania), established conditions for self-government and statehood, included a Bill of Rights, and permanently prohibited slavery
Shay's Rebellion
Uprising led by Daniel Shay in Massachusetts to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms who could not pay their taxes. Many started to criticize the Articles of Confederation because of weak central government.
Constitutional Convention
A convention of the United States states men in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation; instead they created a new government: the US Constitution.
Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house.
Three-Fifths Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise between Southern and Northern states reached during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 in which three-fifths of the population of slaves would be counted for enumeration purposes regarding both the distributio
New Jersey Plan
New Jersey delegate William Paterson's plan of government, in which states got an equal number of representatives in Congress
Virginia Plan
Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population
Popular Sovereignty
People hold the final authority in matters in Congress.
Limited Government
In this type of government everyone, including all authority figures, must obey laws. Constitutions, statements of rights, or other laws define the limits of those in power so they cannot take advantage of the elected, appointed, or inherited positions.
Separation of Powers
The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power.
Judicial Review
The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional.
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments.
Delegated Powers
Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution.
Reserved Powers
Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people.
Concurrent Powers
Powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments.
Legislative Brach
The branch of government that makes the laws.
bicameral legislature
A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate.
necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)
The provision in Article One of the United States Constitution, section 8, clause 18; The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by thi
expressed powers
Powers that Congress have that are specifically listed in the Constitution.
Executive Branch
The branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws
cabinet
People appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers.
electoral college
The body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president.
Judicial Branch
The branch of the United States government responsible for the administration of justice.
Marbury v Madison
Established concept of judicial review, first time supreme court declared something 'unconstitutional'.
precedents
How similar cases have been decided in the past.
strict interpretation
A way of interpreting the Constitution that allows the Federal Government to only do those things specifically mentioned in the Constitution.
ratify
To approve.
Federalist Papers
A series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay (using the name "publius") published in NY newspapers and used to convice readers to adopt the new constitution.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
James Madison
Strict constructionist, 4th president, father of the Constitution, leads nation through War of 1812
Edmund Randolph
Introduced the Virginia plan and first Attorney General.
William Paterson
Introduced the New Jersey Plan.
Alexander Hamilton
United States Statesman, leader of the Federalists, first Secretary of the Treasury.
George Washington
Virginian, patriot, general, and president. Lived at Mount Vernon. Led the Revolutionary Army in the fight for independence. First President of the United States.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the US during Great Depression and World War II; 32nd President
John Marshall
Chief justice of the supreme court.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
Associate Justice on the Supreme Court; extremely influential.
broad interpretation
An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court).
Anti-Federalists
People who opposed the constitution.