Ap Gov Chapter 2

Front 1

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Back 1

The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court asserted its right to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress.

Front 2

Natural Rights Theory

Back 2

The theory that all people have rights under natural law. The Declaration of Independence lists them as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Front 3

Principles of Government

Back 3

Ideas about how government should be run, what rights the people have, etc.

Front 4

Amendment Process

Back 4

PHASE ONE: PROPOSAL

•Congress: 2/3 vote in each house

OR

•National Convention: requested by 2/3 of the states

PHASE TWO: RATIFICATION

•State Conventions: vote of 3/4 of the states

OR

•State Legislatures: vote of 3/4 of the states

Front 5

Amendment

Back 5

The act or process of revising something – especially the U.S. Constitution.

Front 6

Ratification

Back 6

The approval from the legislative branch required to validate government agreements.

Front 7

Checks and Balances

Back 7

Features of the constitution that limit government's power by requiring each branch to obtain the consent of the others for its actions, limiting and balancing power among the branches.

Front 8

Judicial Review

Back 8

The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and the executive are in accord with the U.S. Constitution. It was established by Marbury v. Madison.

Front 9

Federalist Papers

Back 9

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

Front 10

Bill of Attainder

Back 10

A legislative act that punishes people without a judicial trial.

Front 11

Ex Post Facto Law

Back 11

A law that punishes people or increases the penalties for acts that were not illegal or not as punishable when the act was committed.

Front 12

Separation of Powers

Back 12

A feature of the Constitution that requires the three branches to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these three.

Front 13

Factions

Back 13

Groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government.

Front 14

Shays' Rebellion

Back 14

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings. (1786)

Front 15

Articles of Confederation

Back 15

The United States' first Constitution, adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. Established a national legislature and the Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatures.

Front 16

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Back 16

The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population; and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.

Front 17

Republic

Back 17

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Front 18

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Back 18

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.

Front 19

Consent of the Governed

Back 19

The idea that government derives its authority by consent of the people.

Front 20

Virginia Plan

Back 20

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's share of the US population.

Front 21

New Jersey Plan

Back 21

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

Front 22

Limited Government

Back 22

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Front 23

Anti-Federalists

Back 23

Opponents of the US Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Front 24

Federalists

Back 24

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.