| A | B |
|---|
| Articles of Confederation | First U.S. form of government that created a weak national government |
| Northwest Ordinance | Set the pattern by which new states could join the union, but no slavery was allowed |
| Consitutional Convention | 55 delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft the Constitution |
| Great Compromise | Created a bicameral legislature that benefitted both large and small states |
| Three-fifths Compromise | Dealt with the issue of slavery for representation |
| Federalists | Favored ratification of the Constitution that would provide a strong national government |
| Anti-Federalists | Wanted a weak national government and a bill of rights |
| Federalist Papers | A series pro-ratification essays encouraging the passage of the Constitution |
| Bill of Rights | First ten amendments to the Constitution which protect one's civil liberties |
| Legislative Branch | Has the power to override presidential vetoes |
| Executive Branch | Has the power to appoint judges |
| Judicial Branch | Has the power to determine laws unconstitutional |
| Checks and Balances | Gives each branch of government a way to check other branches (veto, override, impeach) |
| Federalism | Sharing of power between the federal and state governments |
| Delegated Powers | Powers given to the federal government such as declaring war |
| Reserved Powers | Powers given to the state governments such as establishing schools |
| Concurrent Powers | Powers shared by the federal and state governments such as collecting taxes |
| Elastic Clause | Congress can make all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out the tasks listed in the Constitution |
| Precedent | Traditions established by presidents such as the two-term presidency or the presidential cabinet |
| Electoral College | Process of how the President is elected |
| Thirteenth Amendment | Abolition of slavery |
| Fourteenth Amendment | Citizenship and civil rights |
| Fifteenth Amendment | Voting rights for African American men |
| Sixteenth Amendment | Income tax |
| Seventeenth Amendment | Direct election of senators |
| Eighteenth Amendment | Prohibition of alcoholic beverages |
| Nineteenth Amendment | Voting rights for women |
| Twenty-second Amendment | President limited to 2 terms |
| Lobbying | Representatives of special interest groups attempt to influence legislation |
| Census | A counting of the population every 10 years to determine the number of representatives per state |
| Unwritten Constitution | Actions that occur within the government that are not necessarily written in the Constitution, such as, political parties and the committee system |
| Shays' Rebellion | a rebellion in Massachusetts led by Captain Daniel Shays that proved the Articles of Confederation was too weak to be the government of the United States |
