| A | B |
|---|
| Federal system | divides government powers between national and state government |
| Separation of Powers | based on James Madison's "Virginia Plan" |
| Checks and Balances | keeps one branch from gaining too much power |
| Legislative Branch | Congress--makes laws |
| Judicial Branch | Supreme Court--decides if laws are constitutional |
| Executive Branch | President--carries out the laws |
| Congress | House of Representatives and Senate |
| Articles of Confederation | first constitution of the U.S.-written during American Revolution |
| Bill of Rights | first 10 amendments to the Constitution; written guarantee of individual rights |
| e pluribus unum | out of many, one |
| James Madison | "Father of the Constitution" |
| Republic | a form of government in which people elect represetatives to govern the country |
| Three-Fifths(3/5) Compromise | the issue of enslaved African Americans |
| The Great Compromise established | how states would be represented in Congress |
| Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation | weak national government, gave Congress no power to tax, no common currency, each state got one vote, no executive or judicial branch |
| Virginia Plan | called for separation of powers into three branches of government |
| Federalist Party | in favor of strong national government, national bank and industry, and limit on states' powers |
