| A | B |
|---|
| bicameral | The word that refers to the idea of having a two-house legislature to divide power. (193) |
| republic | A government in which citizens rule through elected representatives. (193) |
| Articles of Confederation | America's first plan for a national government adopted in 1777. (193-194) |
| states | In the Articles of Confederation, ___________ kept most of the power, while Congress was weak. (194) |
| constitution | A written plan of government. (193) |
| Spain | This country argued with America in the 1780's about use of the southern Mississippi River for transporting goods. (198) |
| Mississippi River | Spain and the U.S. argued over control of this natural boundary. (198) |
| Ordinance | The ___________ of 1785 and the Northwest ____________ were laws that allowed western territories to grow and become states in an orderly manner. (195-196) |
| George Washington | He described the A.of C. as "little more than shadow without the substance" in 1786. (198) |
| Britain | This country kept military forts in America's Great Lakes region, and interfered with American trade. (197-198). |
| Congress | Under the Articles of Confederation, America had no President or national court system. The A. of C. consistied of only of the _______________. (194) |
| nine | The number of states needed to approve the Constitution for it to become America's plan of government. |
| Articles of Confederation | The weak national government that the Constitution replaced. |
| depression | A period of economic difficulties. |
| James Madison | He wrote the Virginia Plan -- our basic plan of government. |
| Philadelphia | The Constitutional Convention took place in the Pennsylvania State House in this city. |
| 1787 | The Constitutional Convention took place in the summer of this year. |
| Virginia Plan | James Madison's plan to create a strong national government with three branches. |
| New Jersey Plan | The small states' plan. It called for equal representation in Congress. |
| Great Compromise | Agreement that satisfied big and small states with a bicameral Congress ( House & Senate). |
| House of Representatives | The house of Congress that is determined by state population. |
| Senate | Every state gets two members in this house of Congress. |
| Three-Fifths Compromise | Agreement that 60% of the slave population would count towards representation in the House of Representatives. |
| Bill of Rights | A list of rights and freedoms guaranteed to citizens. |
| Shays's Rebellion | Farmers' revolt that showed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. |
| Executive Branch | As the leader of this branch, the President runs the federal government with the help of his Cabinet. |
| Legislative Branch | In this branch of our federal government, the House & Senate makes new laws and decide how to use America's tax revenue. |
| Judicial Branch | The branch of government that serves as our national court system led by the Supreme Court. |
| President | Chief Executive, Commander-in-Chief, Head of State, Diplomatic Leader, Legislative Leader and more.... |
| Supreme Court | This is the highest court in America. Its members head up the Judicial Branch. |
| House of Representatives | One of the bodies of Congress. There are 435 members. |
| Senate | One of the bodies of Congress. There are 100 members. |
| Electoral College | This is the group of the electors from each state that actually elect the President. Each state gets as many electors as they have members of Congress. |
| veto | The president's legislative power to refuse to sign a bill into law. |
| checks & balances | System that keeps any branch of government from gaining too much power. Each branch has powers to limit the authority of the other branches. |
| judicial review | This is the special power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of laws. |
| impeachment | This is the process to remove a President, or Supreme Court Justice. First the House votes, then the Senate. |
| Cabinet | The leaders of fifteen departments advise the President in running the country. |
| Vice President | leader of the Senate & first in the line of Presidential succession |
| Chief Justice | This head of the Supreme Court breaks the tie in important cases. |
| majority | This is the kind of vote necessary to decide a Supreme Court case -- even 5-4 is decisive. |
| Congress | Another name for the Legislative Branch. The common name for the House & Senate together. |
| Federalists | Supporters of the Constitution who argued for its ratification. |
| Antifederalists | Government leaders who argued for a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constituiton. |
| amendment | a change, or addition, to the Constitution |
| responsibilities | Things that American citizens are expected to do even though there is no penalty for not doing it; like voting. |
| duties | Things American citizens are required to do; like obeying laws & serving on juries. |
| 1st Amendment | 5 freedoms - speech, religion, press, assembly & petition. |
| 2nd Amendment | Right to defend yourself with a gun. |
| 4th Amendment | No unreasonable search & seizure. |
| 6th Amendment | Right to a speedy, public trial with the help of a lawyer decided by a jury. |
| 8th Amendment | No cruel & unusual punishment, or excessive bail. |
