| A | B |
|---|
| Articles of Confederation | first plan of government for the United States |
| Weakness of the Articles | most of the power was given to the states |
| Weakness of the Articles | the national government could not tax the people |
| Weakness of the Articles | there was no national army |
| Shay's Rebellion | farmers protested their farms being taken by not allowing the courts to meet |
| Constitutional Convention | met in Philadelphia in May 1787 |
| George Washington | named president of the Constitutional Convention |
| James Madison | considered the "father of the Constitution" |
| federal system | states and central government share the right to govern |
| Virginia Plan | representation would be based on the population of the state |
| New Jersey Plan | each state would have an equal number of representatives |
| Great Compromise | called for 2 houses of congress |
| Three-fifths Compromise | 3/5 of slaves would be counted for tax purposes and for representation |
| 9 of 13 | number of states that would have to vote to approve Constitution |
| Bill of Rights | first 10 amendments to the Constitution |
| 1st amendment | freedom of religion, speech, and press |
| 2nd amendment | right to bear arms |
| Legislative Branch | makes the laws |
| Executive Branch | carry out laws |
| Judicial Branch | must decide if laws are working fairly |
| 435 | number of representatives in the House of Representatives |
| 100 | number of Senators |
| Legislative Branch | Regualtes commerce between states and other countries |
| Legislative Branch | can declare war |
| Legislative Branch | made up of the House of Representatives and Senate |
| Congress | legislative branch |
| House of Representatives | number is based on poulation of state |
| Senate | equal number of representatives for all states |
| President | head of executive branch |
| 2 years | length of term for member of House of Representatives |
| 4 years | length of term for President |
| 6 years | length of term for Senator |
| Supreme Court | Judicial Branch |
| justices | Supreme Court judges |
| 9 | number of Supreme Court judges |
| George Washington | first President |
| John Adams | first Vice-President |
| Thomas Jefferson | first Secretary of State |
| Alexander Hamilton | first Secretary of Treasury |
| John Jay | first Chief Justice of Supreme Court |
| veto | reject |
| impeach | accuse the President of crimes |
| bill | an idea for a new law |
| census | an official population count |
| ratify | approve |
| amendment | addition or change to the Constitution |
| due process of law | right to a fair public trial |
| cabinet | the President's most important advisers |
