American Government Power And Purpose Chapter 2

Front 1

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

Back 1

America's first written constitution, Adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were the formal basis for America's national government until 1789, when they were superseded by the Constitution.

Front 2

Great Compromise

Back 2

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population.

Front 3

Three-Fifths Compromise

Back 3

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 stipulating that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person.

Front 4

Bicameralism

Back 4

The division of a legislative body into two chambers, or houses.

Front 5

Expressed Powers

Back 5

The powers enumerated in the constitution that are granted to the federal government.

Front 6

Necessary and Proper Clause

Back 6

Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution, which enumerates powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out; also referred to as the elastic clause.

Front 7

Judicial Review

Back 7

The power of the courts to declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison in 1803.

Front 8

Supremacy Clause

Back 8

A clause of Article VI of the Constitution that states that all laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme laws of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision.

Front 9

Separation of Powers

Back 9

The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decison making.

Front 10

Federalism

Back 10

The system of government in which a constituion divides pwer between a central government and regional governments.

Front 11

Bill of Rights

Back 11

The first 10 ammendment to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791. The Bill of Rights ensures certain rights and liberties to the people.

Front 12

Checks and Balances

Back 12

The mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches.

Front 13

Federalists

Back 13

Those who favored a strong national government and supoorted the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Front 14

Antifederalists

Back 14

Those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787.