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| United States Constitution |
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| Document written in 1787 (ratified in 1789) that establishes the basic structure and purpose of the United States' government |
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| Articles of Confederation |
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| The first attempt at writing an organized constitution following the Revolutionary War, plagued with many weaknesses and impractical checks and balances |
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| Event revolving around farmers in Massachusetts who - after feeling like they were taken advantage of by the local judiciary - ransacked a local armory in defiance of law enforcement; pointed out the need for a standing national military |
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| Refers to Article II of the constitution that establishes the powers of the President and his Executive Branch |
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| A system by which each of the branches of government (legislative, judicial, executive) are given the ability to disapprove or deny actions of the other two branches |
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Refers to the group of people that supported the Constitution and a larger central government.
anti-Federalists: Refers to the group of people that were opposed to the size of the Government established by the Constitution |
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| A series of essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton arguing the merits of the new Constitution in an effort to expedite the ratification process |
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| Important founding father who made significant contributions to the style and structure of the Constitution, The Federalist papers, and served in multiple cabinet roles and eventually as the fourth President of the United States |
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| Founding Father who was important for arguing the merits of the Constitution and a larger role for the central government |
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| The process of approving something; here it specifically refers to the Constitution |
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| The idea that mans day to day actions are guided by a series of written rules and regulations rather than the whim of political officials |
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| A major principle of the constitution that says the citizens of the country are the ones who actually hold the power and that they elect officials to execute their powers for them |
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| Constitutional principle that takes the basic responsibilities and functions of government and divides them in to 3 branches |
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| Concept that takes powers of government and divides them into National, State, and Local levels |
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