| A | B |
|---|
| ratify | to approve something |
| Articles of Confederation | plan for national government where states would keep their freedom and independence |
| legislative branch | the part of the government that passes laws |
| executive branch | the part of the government that carries out the laws |
| judicial branch | the part of government that interprets the laws |
| Shay's Rebellion | movement by farmers to protest high taxes |
| Northwest Ordinance | an order that commanded that the Northwest Territory be divided into smaller territories |
| delegate | a representative |
| Consitutional Convention | assembly that replaced the Articles of Confederation |
| Virginia Plan | plan that proposed that congress should be given much greater power over the states |
| New Jersey Plan | plan that proposed that each state, regardless of size, would have the same number of representatives in Congress |
| compromise | each side gives up something to reach an agreement |
| Great Compromise | agreement to create a Congress with two houses |
| Three-fifths Compromise | three out of every five slaves would be counted for population and taxation |
| Preamble | introduction to the Constitution |
| separation of powers | each branch of government has different and separate powers |
| checks and balances | system set up by the Consitution that gives each branch of government the power to check, or limit, the power of the other branches |
| veto | to refuse to sign into law |
| amendment | an addition or change to the Constitution |
| Bill of Rights | first 10 amendments to the Constitution |
