| front |
back |
revisions |
lasted changed by |
history |
| Virginia plan: |
- A plan proposed by the larger states during the constitutional convention in which representation in the national legislature was based on population. The plan also included a variety of others proposals to strengthen a national government. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:56 GMT |
 |
| Three-fifths compromise: |
- The states decision during the constitutional convention to court each slave three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining the number of house districts per state based on population |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:56 GMT |
|
| Republicanism: |
- The belief that a form a government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders is the best form of government |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:56 GMT |
|
| Republican democracy: |
- A form of government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:56 GMT |
|
| Power of the purse: |
- The constitutional power of congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing, or cutting their funding to punish executive agencies. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:18 GMT |
|
| Pluralism: |
- The idea that having a variety of parties and interests within a government will strengthen the system, ensuring that no group possesses total control. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:18 GMT |
|
| Parliamentary system: |
- A system of government in which legislative and executive power are closely joined. The legislature (parliament) selects the chief executive (prime minister), who forms the cabinet from members of the parliament |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:18 GMT |
|
| New Jersey Plan: |
- In response to the Virginia plan, smaller states of the constitutional convention offered this plan in which each state would receive equal representation in the national legislature, regardless of size. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:24:18 GMT |
|
| Natural rights: |
- Also known as “unalienable rights”, the declaration of independence defines them as “Life ,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:23:29 GMT |
|
| National supremacy clause: |
- Part of article VI, section 2, of the constitution stating that the constitution is the “supreme law of the land”, meaning national laws take precedent over state laws if the two conflict. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:23:29 GMT |
|
| Monarchy: |
- A form of government in which power is held by a single person, or monarch, who comes to power through inheritance rather than election. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:23:29 GMT |
|
| Limited government: |
- A system in which the powers of the government are restricted to protect against tyranny. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:23:29 GMT |
|
| Judicial review: |
- The supreme courts power to strike down a law or executive branch action that it finds unconstitutional. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:22:34 GMT |
|
| Implied powers: |
- Powers supported by the constitution that are not expressly stated to it. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:22:34 GMT |
|
| Impeachment: |
- A negative or checking power of congress over the branches allowing them to remove the president, vice president, or other “officers of the united states” abuses of power. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:22:34 GMT |
|
| Great compromise: |
- A compromise between the large and small states, proposed by Connecticut, in which congress would have two houses: a senate with two houses: a senate with two legislators per state, and a house of representatives in which each state’s representation would be based on population |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:22:34 GMT |
|
| Federalist: |
- Those at the constitutional convention who favored a strong national government over strong state government. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:21:23 GMT |
|
| Federalist papers: |
- A series of eighty-five articles written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and john jay that sought to sway public opinion toward the federalists position. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:21:23 GMT |
|
| Factions: |
- Groups of like-minded people who try to influence the government. America’s government is set up to avoid domination by any one of these groups. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:21:23 GMT |
|
| Executive powers clause: |
- Part of article II, section 1, of the constitution that states, “the executive power shall be vested in a president of the united states of America. This broad statement has been used to justify many assertions of presidential power. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:21:23 GMT |
|
| Enumerated powers: |
- Powers explicitly granted to congress, the president, or the supreme court in the first three articles of the constitution. Examples include congress’s power to “raise and support armies” and the president’s power as commander in chief |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:20:21 GMT |
|
| Elastic clause: |
- Part of article I, section 8, of the constitution that grants congress the power to pass any law that is related to one of its expressed powers |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:20:20 GMT |
|
| Constitutional revolution: |
- A significant change in the constitution that may be accomplished either through amendments (as in after the civil war) or shifts in the supreme court’s interpretation of the constitution (as In the new deal era) |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:20:20 GMT |
|
| Consent of the governed: |
- The idea that government gains it legitimacy through regular elections in which the people living under that government participate to elect their leaders |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:20:20 GMT |
|
| Commerce clause: |
- Part of article I, section 8, of the constitution that gives congress “the power to regulate commerce…among the several states”. The Supreme Court’s interpretation of this clause has varied, but today it serves as the basis for much of congresses’ legislation. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:19:15 GMT |
|
| Bills of rights: |
- The first ten amendments to the constitution; they protect individual rights and liberties |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:19:15 GMT |
|
| Articles of confederation: |
- Written in 1776, these were the first attempt at a new American government. It was later decided that the articles restricted national government too much, and they were replaced by the constitution |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:19:15 GMT |
|
| Antifederalists: |
- Those at the constitutional convention who favored strong state governments over a strong national government. |
0 |
phi2846 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:19:15 GMT |
|
