| A | B |
|---|
| Constitutional Convention | met in Philadelphia in 1787 to improve the Articles of Confederation |
| Roger Sherman | Connecticut representative who proposed the Great Compromise |
| Virginia Plan | proposed a bicameral legislature with representatives based on a state's population |
| New Jersey Plan | proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation |
| Great Compromise | bicameral legislature, House of Representatives based on population, Senate equal representation |
| Three-Fifths Compromise | each slave would count as 3/5 of a person when determining representation in Congress |
| popular sovereignty | political authority belongs to the people |
| federalism | sharing of power between state and national governments |
| legislative branch | Congress-responsible for passing laws |
| executive branch | President and cabinet-make sure the laws are carried out |
| judicial branch | all of the national courts |
| checks and balances | keeps any branch from becoming too powerful |
| Antifederalists | people who opposed the Constitution because they thought it gave too much power to the central government |
| George Mason | Antifederalist who opposed the Constitution because it did not protect individual freedoms |
| Federalists | supporters of the Constitution who believed in a strong central government |
| Federalist Papers | essays supporting the Constiturtion |
| amendments | official changes to the Constitution |
| Bill of Rights | first 10 amendments to the Constitution to protect citizen's rights |
