Term
| Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union |
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Definition
| America's first written constitution. Adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were the formal basis for America's national government until 1789, when they were superseded by the Constitution. |
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Term
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Definition
| An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number if senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population |
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Term
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Definition
| An agreement reached at the Constitiutional Convention of 1787 stipulating that for purpose of the appointment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person. |
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Term
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Definition
| The division of a legislative body into two houses of chambers. |
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Term
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Definition
| The notion that the Constitution grants to the federal government only those powers specifically named in its text |
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Term
| The Legislative Branch (House) |
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Definition
| Two year terms, elected directly by the people. |
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Term
| The Legislative Branch (Senate) |
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Definition
| Six year terms (staggered so that only one third of the Senate changes in any given election), appointed by state legislature (changed in 1913 to direct election). |
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Term
| The Legislative Branch (Expressed Powers of the National Government) |
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Definition
| Collecting taxes, borrowing money, regulating commerce, declaring war, and maintaining an army and a navy; all other power belongs to the states, unless deemed otherwise by the elastic (necessary and proper) clauses |
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Term
| The Legislative Branch (Exclusive Powers of National Government) |
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Definition
| States are expressly forbidden to issue their own paper money, tax imports, and exports, regulate trade outside if thier borders, and impair the obligation of contracts; these powers are the exclusive domain of the national government. |
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Term
| The Executive Branch (Presidency) |
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Definition
| Four year term (limited in 1951 to a maximum of two terms), elected indirectly by the electoral college. |
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Term
| The Executive Branch (Powers) |
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Definition
| Can recognize other countries, negotiate treaties, grant reprieves and pardons, convene Congress in special sessions, and veto congressional enactments |
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Term
| The Judaical Branch (Supreme Court) |
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Definition
| Lifetime terms, appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate/ |
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Term
| The Judaical Branch (Powers) |
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Definition
| Include resolving conflicts between federal and state laws, determining whether power belongs to national government or the states, and selling controversies between citizens and different states. |
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Term
| National Unity of Power (Reciprocity Among States) |
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Definition
| Establishes that each state must give "full faith and credit" to official acts of national government or the states, and guarantees citizens of any state the "privileges and immunities" of every other state. |
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Term
| Amending the Constitution (Procedures) |
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Definition
| Requires two-thirds approval in Congress and three-fourths adoption by the states. |
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Term
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Definition
| The Constitution and national law are the supreme law of the land and cannot be overruled by state law. |
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Term
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Definition
| The Constitution became effective when approved by nine states. |
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Term
| Necessary and Proper Clause |
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Definition
| Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out; also referred to as the elastic clause. |
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Term
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Definition
| The power of the courts to declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted their power in Marbury v. Madison (1803). |
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Term
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Definition
| A clause of Article VI of the Constitution that states by the national government and all treaties are the supreme laws of of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision. |
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Term
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Definition
| The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making |
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Term
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Definition
| The system of government in which a constitution divides power between a central government and regional government |
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Term
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Definition
| The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution adopted in 1791. The Bill of Rights ensures certain rights to the people. |
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Term
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Definition
| The mechanisms through which branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches. |
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Term
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Definition
1. Passes federal laws
2. Controls federal appropriations
3. Approves treaties and presidential appointments.
4. Regulates interstate commerce
5. Establishes lower court system |
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Term
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Definition
1. Enforces Laws
2. Serves as commander in chief of armed forces
3. makes foreign treaties
4. Proposes laws
5. Nominates Supreme Court Justices and federal court judges
6. Pardons those convicted in federal court. |
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Term
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Definition
1. Reviews lower-court decisions
2. Decides constitutionality of laws
3. Decides cases involving disputes between states. |
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Term
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Definition
| Those who favored a strong national government and supported the constitution proposed art the American Constitutional Convention of 1787 |
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Term
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Definition
| Those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787 |
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Term
Federalists
1. Who are they?
2. What did they Believe
3. What system of government did they favor?
4. Who were their leaders? |
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Definition
1. Property Owners, creditors, and merchants
2. Believed that elites were best fit to govern feared "excessive democracy"
3. Favored strong national government; believed in "filtration" so that only elites would obtain governmental power
4. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington |
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Term
Anti-Federalists
1. Who are they?
2. What did they Believe
3. What system of government did they favor?
4. Who were their leaders? |
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Definition
1. Small farmers, frontiersman, debtors, shopkeepers
2. Believed that government should be closer to the people; feared concentration of power in the hands of the elite.
3. Favored retention of power by state governments and protection of individual rights.
4. Patrick Henry, George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, George Clinton |
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Term
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Definition
| Limits on Congress: Congress is not to make any law establishing a religion or abridging the freedom of speech, press, assembly, or the right to petition freedoms |
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Term
| Amendments II, III, and IV |
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Definition
| Limits on Executive: The executive branch is not to infringe on the right of people or keep arms (II), is not arbitrarily to take house for a militia (III), and is not to engage in the search and seizure of evidence without a court warrant swearing to a belief in the probable existence of a crime (IV) |
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Term
| Amendments V, VI, VII, VIII |
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Definition
| Limits on Courts: The courts are not to hold trials for serious offenses without provision for a grand jury (V), a petit (triala) jury (VII), a speedy trial (VI), presentation of charges, and confrontation of hostile witnesses (VI). Individuals may not be compelled to testify against themselves (V) and are immune from trial more than once for the offense (V),. Neither bail nor punishment can be excessive (VIII), and no property can be taken without just compensation (V) |
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Term
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Definition
| Limits on National Government: All rights not enumerated are reserved to the states or the people. |
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Term
| Amending the Constitution to expand the Electorate: Amendments XIV, XV, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, XXVI |
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Definition
Section 1 provided national definition of citizenship (XIV) (Proposed-1866, Adopted-1868).
Extended voting rights to all races (XV)(Proposed-1869, Adopted-1870).
Extended voting rights to women (XIX)(Proposed-1919, Adopted-1920)
Extended voting rights to residents of the District of Columbia (XXIII)(Proposed-1960, Adopted-1961)
Extended all classes by abolition of poll taxes(XXIV)(Proposed-1962, adopted-1964)
Extended voting rights to citizens aged 18 or older (XXVI)(Proposed-1971, adopted-1971) |
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Term
| Amending the Constitution to change the relationship between the elected offices and the electorate. Amendments XII, XIV, XVII, XX, XXII, XXV |
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Definition
(XII) Created separate ballot for vice president in the electoral collage (proposed-1803, adopted-1804)
(XIV) Sectoin 2 eliminated counting as slaves as "three-fifths" citizens for apportionment of House seats. (P-1866, A-1868)
(XVII)Provided direct election of senators. (P-1912, A-1913)
(XX) Eliminated "lame duck: sessions of Congress. (P-1932, A-1933)
(XXII) Limited presidential term. (P-1947, A-1951)
(XXV) Provided presidential succession in case of disability (P-1965, A-1967). |
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Term
| Amending the Constitution to expand or limit the power of government. Amendments XI, XIII, XIV, XVI, XXVII. |
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Definition
(XI) Limited jurisdiction of federal courts over suits involving the states. (P-1794, A-1798)
(XIII) Eliminated Slavery and eliminated the right of states to allow property in person. (P-1865, A-1865)
(XIV)(Part 2) Applied due process of Bill of Rights to the states. (P-1866, A-1868)
(XVI) Established national power to tax incomes (P-1909, A-1913)
(XXVII) Limited Congress's power to raise its own salary (P-1789, A-1992) |
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Term
| Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union |
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Definition
| America’s first written constitution. Adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were the formal basis for America’s national government until 1789, when they were superseded by the Constitution. (See page 38) |
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Term
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Definition
| An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population. (See page 44) |
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Term
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Definition
| The notion that the Constitution grants to the federal government only those powers specifically named in its text. (See page 50) |
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Term
| Necessary and Proper Clause |
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Definition
| Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry them out; also referred to as the elastic clause. (See page 50) |
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Term
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Definition
| The power of the courts to declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803). (See page 52) |
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Term
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Definition
| A clause of Article VI of the Constitution that states that all laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme laws of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision. (See page 53) |
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Term
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Definition
| The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making. (See page 54) |
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Term
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Definition
| The system of government in which a constitution divides power between a central government and regional governments. (See page 54) |
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Term
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Definition
| The mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches. (See page 54) |
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Term
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Definition
| Oppressive government that employs the cruel and unjust use of power and authority. (See page 59) |
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