| A | B |
|---|
| checks and balances | system by which any one branch of government is prevented from becoming too powerful. |
| Constitutional Convention | Meeting where delegates discussed ways to improve the Articles of Confederation |
| Great Compromise | Gave each state an equal vote in the upper house of the legislature while granting to the lower house representation based on population. |
| upper house of Congress, has 100 members | Senate |
| Representation is based on 2 from each state. | Senate |
| lower house of Congress, has 435 members | House of Representatives |
| representation is based on the population of the state | House of Representatives |
| James Madison | Known as the Father of the Constitution |
| New Jersey Plan | This plan called for a one-house legislature in which each state had an equal number of votes. |
| popular sovereignty | The idea that political authority belongs to the people. |
| Three-Fifths Compromise | Agreement that slaves would not be counted as a whole person when determining representation. |
| Virginia Plan | Gave each state an equal vote in the upper house of the legislature while granting to the lower house representation based on population. |
| federalism | The sharing of power between a central government and the states it is comprised of. |
| legislative branch | Branch of government that is responsible for proposing and passing laws. |
| executive branch | Branch of government that enforces or executes the laws. |
| judicial branch | Branch of government that interprets or explains the laws. |
| President | executive branch |
| Congress | legislative branch |
| Supreme Court, court system, judges | Judicial branch |
| The legislative branch has the power to | create laws and override a presidential veto by a 2/3rds vote. |
| The judicial branch has the power to | review any law passed by congress and declare it unconstitutional. |
| The executive branch has the power to | veto a law passed by Congress and appoint court justices. |
| This document created a weak central government, with the states having most of the power but it could not protect the country. | Articles of Confederation |
| the sharing of power between a central government and the states that make up a country | federalism |
| System in which the government is divided into 3 different branches. | Separation of Powers |
| System to make sure that one area of the government would not have too much power. | checks and balances |
| The opening statement of the Constitution, gives the power to the people | The Preamble |
| Another word for 2 houses | bicameral |
