All Flashcards
Define 'ratification'.
The process of states approving the Constitution.
What is the 'Bill of Rights'?
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, protecting individual liberties.
Define 'Federalism'.
A system of government where power is divided between a national government and state governments.
What are 'checks and balances'?
A system where each branch of government can limit the power of the other two.
Define 'Electoral College'.
A body of electors chosen to elect the President and Vice President.
What is the 'Preamble' of the Constitution?
The introduction to the Constitution, stating its goals and source of authority.
Define 'state sovereignty'.
The concept that states have supreme power within their own borders.
What is a 'bicameral legislature'?
A legislature with two houses or chambers.
Define 'judicial review'.
The power of the judiciary to review and invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution.
What is the 'supremacy clause'?
A clause in the Constitution stating that federal law is supreme to state law.
Who was James Madison?
The "Father of the Constitution"; he drafted the Virginia Plan.
Who was George Washington?
Chairman of the Constitutional Convention; his leadership was crucial.
Who was Alexander Hamilton?
A leading Federalist who co-authored The Federalist Papers.
Who was Patrick Henry?
A prominent Antifederalist who opposed the Constitution.
Who was John Jay?
A Federalist who co-authored The Federalist Papers.
Who was Samuel Adams?
A leading Antifederalist who feared a strong central government.
Who was John Hancock?
A prominent Antifederalist.
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
Although absent from the convention, his ideas influenced the process.
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
Played a key role in shaping the final document of the Constitution.
Who was Gouverneur Morris?
He is credited with writing the Preamble and was a strong advocate for a powerful national government.
Compare Federalists and Antifederalists.
Federalists supported the Constitution and a strong national government; Antifederalists opposed the Constitution, favoring states' rights.
Compare the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
The Virginia Plan proposed representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan proposed equal representation for all states.
Compare the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles created a weak central government with limited powers, while the Constitution established a stronger federal government with broad powers.
Compare direct democracy and the Electoral College.
Direct democracy involves citizens voting directly on policies, while the Electoral College is an indirect system for electing the President.
Compare the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Senate has equal representation for each state, while the House has representation based on population.
Compare the powers of the President under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
Under the Articles, there was no real executive branch. The Constitution created a powerful executive with significant authority.
Compare the power to tax under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles lacked the power to tax effectively, while the Constitution granted Congress the power to levy taxes.
Compare the amendment process under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles required unanimous consent for amendments, making it very difficult to change. The Constitution established a more flexible process.
Compare the judicial branch under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles had no national judiciary. The Constitution created a Supreme Court and a system of federal courts.
Compare the views on central government between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Federalists favored a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists favored stronger state governments and a weaker central government.