| A | B |
|---|
| State Constitutions | 1. written document 2. spell out citizen's rights 3. limit power of government |
| Northwest Ordinance | set up a government for the Northwest Territory and outlawed slavery there. |
| Northwest Territory | 5 states were formed from it |
| economic depression | a period when business activity slows down, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises |
| Shay's Rebellion | This proved the Articles of Confederation did not work |
| Problems with the Articles | 1. weak national/ federal government 2. money was a big problem, the new nation was in debt 3. disagreements between states could not be solved 4. foreign countries took advantage of the weak government 5. trade could not be controlled between the states |
| Land Ordinance of 1785 | set up a system for settling the Northwest Territory |
| James Madison | Father of the Constitution |
| Constitutional Convention | delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia to write the Constitution for the United States |
| Virginia Plan | the plan for the new government that based representation in the legislative branch on population |
| New Jersey Plan | plan that based representation in the legislature on equal numbers per state |
| Great Compromise | The agreement that said there would be 2 parts of the legislative branch, one based on population and one based on equality |
| Three Fifths Compromise | the agreement between the Northern and Southern States on how to count slaves in the population. 3 out of every 5 slaves were added into the states population |
| republic | a nation in which voters elect representatives to govern them |
| Separation of Powers | 3 Branches of government were made so not one becomes too powerful |
| federalism | division of power between the states and national government |
| checks and balances | another way in which the Constitution limits the power of the branches of the government. One branch cannot do something without the approval of another branch. |
| Legislative Branch | Passes laws |
| Executive Branch | Carries out laws |
| Judicial Branch | Interprets laws |
| Electoral College | made up of electors from every state; they meet every 4 years to elect a President and Vice President |
| 270 Votes | the number of electoral college votes needed to win an election |
| Impeach | to bring charges against |
| Because the Constitution can be changed it is called a | Living Document |
