| A | B |
|---|
| Constitution | plan of government |
| Republic | government run by elected representatives of the people |
| bill of rights | 12 amendments to the Constitution. Guarantees freedoms |
| confederation | an alliance of independent states |
| depression | a long sharp decline in economic activity |
| legislative branch | branch that makes the laws |
| executive branch | branch that carries out the laws |
| judicial branch | branch that interprets the laws |
| The Judicial Branch Power | interprets law;can declare a law unconstitutional; interpret treaties; declare executive acts unconstitutional |
| The Legislative Branch Power | can override Presidential veto; approve appointments of judges; approve treaties; impeach President; and impeach federal judges |
| The Executive Branch Power | can appoint judges; veto acts of congress; call congress into special session |
| Ratify | to approve a plan of government or an amendment |
| Amendments | changes to the Constitution |
| Federalism | division of power between the states and national government |
| Under Articles of Confederation Congress not given the power to do what? | regulate trade or raise money through taxation |
| Each state had 1 vote | Under Articles of Confederation |
| How many states had to approve major decisions under the Articles of Confederation? | 9 out of 13 states |
| Under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 | once settlers arrived in a Territory Congress would appoint a governor. As soon as there were 5000 males they could elect a legislature |
| What did the Northwest Ordinance include? | bill of rights; made slavery illegal;schooling encouraged;and good faith dealings with the Indians |
| Britain refused to give up | forts in the Northwest Territory |
| Spain challenged American claims between | the Ohio River and Florida |
| rag money | worthless paper money issued by each States |
| 3/5 Compromise | Congress could not end slavery for 20 years;slaves were counted as 3/5 of a white person |
| Which State did not attend the Constitutional Convention | Rhode Island |
| How many delegates attended the Constitutional Convention? | 55 white males |
| Rules of the Constitutional Convention | secrecy (no one could say anything to anyone about it!); each could speak twice on a subject; no one was to whisper; no one could pass notes; and no one could read while someone was speaking. |
| Number votes each state had at Constitutional Convention | 1 |
| George Washington | President of Constitutional Convention |
| James Madison | “Father of Constitution” |
| Who came up with the Great Compromise? | Roger Sherman |
| Federalists | James Madison; John Jay and Alexamder Hamilton |
| not a Federalist | Patrick Henry |
| How many amendments were rejected from the bill of rights? | two |
| Who wrote the bill of rights? | James Madison |
| What was the last state (13th) to ratify the Constitution? | Rhode Island |
| What was the 9th state to ratify the Constitution? | New Hampshire |
| What was the 6th state to ratify the Constitution? | Massachusetts |
| How many of the originally proposed amendments passed? | ten |
| Shay' Rebellion occurred where? | Springfield |
| Who proposed the idea of separation of powers? | Baron de Montesquieu |
| Which branch holds the power to impeach the President? | Legislative Branch |
| Which branch has the power to veto acts of Congress? | Executive Branch |
| Which branch has the power to appoint federal judges? | Executive Branch |
| Due process of law | following the legal steps in a court of law |
| Separation of powers | division of government power among legislative; executive and judicial branches |
| Checks and balances | system in which each branch of government can check (limit) the power of the other two branches |
| Articles of Confederation | gives each state a one vote in Congress. Gave Congress the right to raise an army and navy; control foreign affairs; coin money; and set up a postal system. |
| “rope of sand” | how Madison described how effective Congress was |
| Land Ordinance of 1785 | divided western land “purchased” from Indians into townships. Each township was divided into 36 sections. |
| 60000 people | number of people needed for a territory to apply to become a state according to the Northwest Ordinance 1787 |
| Shays’ Rebellion | an uprising by farmers (led by Daniel Shay) in reaction to an order to sell livestock or farms to pay a debt with cash. |
| Shay wanted to pay debt with | crops instead of money |
| Annapolis Convention | 5 states met in Annapolis Maryland to discuss trade problems in the country. They decided to call a meeting of delegates to meet in Philadelphia (the Constitutional Convention). |
| Constitutional Convention | took place in Philadelphia. A gathering of the delegates form every state to discuss “the situation of the United States” |
| Virginia Plan | the government was divided into three parts: a bicameral legislative branch ; the executive branch; and the judicial branch. Congress would be elected by voters (not the state legislature) and the number of representatives would be based on the states population (the more people who lived in a state meant that they would have more representatives they would have in government) |
| New Jersey Plan | Congress would have one house and each state would have one vote. Congress would be elected by state legislatures not the voters. |
| Great Compromise | Congress would have a House of Representatives and a Senate |
| House of Representatives | part of Congress. each state has different number of members (based on population of state. the more people who lived in a state meant that they would have more representatives they would have in government |
| Senate | part of Congress. each state has 2 members |
| Electoral College | a group of people from each state (electors) who vote for a President and Vice President |
| Federalists | supporters of Constitution. Supported a strong national government |
| The Federalist | a book of articles written by Alexander Hamilton and John Jay that explained how a strong national government would work |
| Anti-Federalists | people opposed to the Constitution. Feared a strong national government |
| Governors elected | for a limited term to prevent tyranny |
| Judges elected for | for a limited term to prevent tyranny |
| Under Land Ordinance 1785 | 4 sections of a township were set aside for national government |
| The National Government | The power to tax; to declare war; to maintain an army and navy; to coin money; to regulate trade (between states and foreign nations); and to make laws |
| State government | the power to conduct elections; to establish schools; to regulate business; establish local government; regulate marriage |
| Shared power | enforce laws; establish courts; borrow money; protect the health and safety of the people; to build roads; and to collect taxes |
| Virginia and Maryland almost went to war over claim to this river | Potomac River |
| They closed Mississippi River to American shippers | Spain |
| Elastic Clause in the Constitution gave Congress | the power to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” |
| Government under Articles of Confederation | most power held by states; a loose union of independent states; a one-house legislature; no executive or judicial branches;only states can tax; states can coin money;no regulation of trade between states |
| Government under Constitution | most power held by national government; a national government representing all America;a two-house legislature; executive and judicial branches established; Congress has the power to tax; only national Government can coin money; and national government regulates trade between states |
| Settlers claimed land by | carving their initials into trees |
| John Hancock | the federalists promised support him for Vice President if he helped them |
| The main complaint of the Constitution | no Bill of Rights |
