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The Constitution and Early American Government
Important Vocabulary
53
History
11th Grade
05/29/2009

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Term
no taxation without representation
Definition
the idea that people shouldn't be taxed by their government without proper representation in that government
Term
inalienable rights
Definition
rights that can't be taken away, regardless of your sex, race or religion
Term
Articles of Confederation
Definition
plan that established, in 1781, a limited national government, later replaced by the Constitution
Term
Shay's Rebellion
Definition
an uprising against taxes in Massachusetts in 1786 and 1787, showed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Term
Great Compromise
Definition
compromise at the Constitutional Convention calling for a two house legislature, with one house elected on the basis of population and the other house representing each state equally
Term
Virginia Plan
Definition
plan favored by the large states during the Constitutional Convention, which had states being represented based on population
Term
New Jersey Plan
Definition
plan favored by small states at the Constitutional Convention that every state should be represented equally, regardless of population size
Term
3/5 Compromise
Definition
compromise at the Constitutional Convention calling for 3/5 of a state's slave population to be counted for the purposes of representation and taxation
Term
federalism
Definition
the division of power between the state and federal governments
Term
separation of powers
Definition
the dividing of powers within the federal government between the legislative, executive and judicial branches
Term
checks and balances
Definition
system in which each of the branches of the federal government can cehck the actions of the other branches
Term
popular sovereignty
Definition
policy of letting the people in a territory decide whether slavery would be allowed there
Term
amendment
Definition
a change in the constitution, there are currently 27
Term
limited government
Definition
the idea that the powers of government are limited and not absolute
Term
delegated powers
Definition
powers that are written in the Constitution
Term
concurrent powers
Definition
powers that are shared between the state and federal government
Term
reserved powers
Definition
powers that are set aside or reserved for the states
Term
supremacy clause
Definition
the idea that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, with no law being higher than it
Term
bill of attainder
Definition
when a legislature decides someone's guilt or innocence by passing a law, instead of having a trial; this is unconstitutional
Term
ex post facto
Definition
Latin for "after the fact", a person cannot be punished for an action that was legal when they did it
Term
writ of habeas corpus
Definition
legal protection requiring that a court determine whether a person is lawfully imprisoned
Term
census
Definition
population count that occurs every ten years in this country, used to determine representation in the House of Representatives
Term
executive branch
Definition
branch of the government, headed by the President, that enforces the laws
Term
legislative branch
Definition
branch of government that makes the laws, Congress
Term
judicial branch
Definition
branch of government, made up of courts and judges, that interprest and applies the laws
Term
electoral college
Definition
group of electors, chosen by the voters, who vote for the President
Term
congress
Definition
made up of two houses, the legislative branch
Term
Supreme Court
Definition
highest court in the land, decides on constitutionality of previous court decisions and laws
Term
veto
Definition
to prevent from becoming law
Term
override
Definition
to cancel a veto, need 2/3 vote of both houses to defeat a veto of a bill
Term
judicial review
Definition
power of federal courts to review state laws and state court decision to determine if they are constitutional
Term
impeach
Definition
to charge a public official with wrongdoing in office
Term
elastic clause
Definition
part of the Constitution sometimes called the 'necessary and proper clause' which allows the Constitution to adapt to the changing times
Term
unconstitutional
Definition
violating the Constitution
Term
senate
Definition
upper house of Congress, representation is equal from each state
Term
House of Representatives
Definition
lower house of Congress, representation is based on population
Term
original jurisdiction
Definition
hearing a case in court for the first time
Term
cabinet
Definition
leaders of the executive departments of the federal government
Term
committee
Definition
a person or group of persons elected or appointed to perform some service or function
Term
appellate jurisdiction
Definition
review a previous court's decision or law
Term
primary
Definition
a preliminary election in which voters of each party nominate candidates for office
Term
federalists
Definition
supporters of the constitution during the debate over its ratification, favored a strong national government
Term
antifederalists
Definition
opponents of the Constitution during the debate over its ratification, opposed the concept of a strong central government
Term
Federalist Papers
Definition
a series of essays that were written to try to convince people to support the ratification of the Constitution
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
first ten amendments to the Constitution
Term
double jeopardy
Definition
everyone is protected from being tried twice for the same crime
Term
eminent domain
Definition
the power of the state to take private property for public use with payment of compensation to the owner
Term
strict constructionists
Definition
belief that the government should not do anything that the constitution does not specifically say it can do
Term
loose constructionist
Definition
belief that the government can do anything that the Constitution does not prohibit
Term
Washington's Farewell Address
Definition
speech that warned that the U.S. should not become involved in other countries affairs, we should stay neutral
Term
neutral
Definition
not taking sides in a conflict or a dispute
Term
isolationism
Definition
policy of avoiding political or economic alliances with foreign countries
Term
Monroe Doctrine
Definition
declaration by President Monroe in 1823 that the U.s. would oppose efforts by any outside power to control a nation in the Western hemisphere
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