Chapter 2: Apgov

Front 1

Mercantilism

Back 1

An economic theory designed to increase a nation's wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade.

Front 2

Stamp Act Congress

Back 2

Meeting of representatives of nine of the thirteen colonies, held in New York City in 1765, during which representatives drafted a document to send to the King listing how their rights had been violated.

Front 3

Committees of Correspondence

Back 3

Organizations in each of the American Colonies created to keep colonists abreast of developments with the British; served as powerful molders of public opinion against the British.

Front 4

First Continental Congress

Back 4

Meeting held in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in which 56 delegates (from every colony except Georgia) adopted a resolution in opposition to the Coercive Acts.

Front 5

Second Continental Congress

Back 5

Meeting that took place in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, at which it was decided that an army should be raised and George Washington of Viriginia was named Commander in Chief.

Front 6

Declaration of Independence

Back 6

Document drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that proclaimed the right of the American colonies to separate from Great Britain.

Front 7

Articles of Confederation

Back 7

The compact among the thirteen original colonies that created a loose league of friendship, with the national government drawing it's powers from the states.

Front 8

Confederation

Back 8

Type of government where the national government derives its powers from the states; a league of independent states.

Front 9

Shays's Rebellion

Back 9

A 1786 rebellion in which an army of 1,500 disgruntled and angry farmers led by Daniel Shays marched to Springfield, Massachussetts, and forcibly restrained the state court from foreclosing mortgages on their farms.

Front 10

Constitution

Back 10

A document written that established the structure, function and limitations of a government.

Front 11

Virginia Plan

Back 11

The first general plan for the Constitution offered in Philadelphia. Its key points were a bicameral legislature and an executive and a judiciary chosen by the national legislature.

Front 12

New Jersey Plan

Back 12

A framework for the Constitution proposed by a group of small states. Its key points were a one-house legislature, with one vote for each state, a Congress with the ability to raise revenure, and a Supreme Court with members appointed for life.

Front 13

Great Compromise

Back 13

The final decision of the Constitutional Convention to create a two-house legislature with the lower house elected by the people and with powers divided between the two houses. It also made national law supreme.

Front 14

Three-Fifths Compromise

Back 14

Agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention stipulating that each slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of determining population for representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Front 15

Separation of Powers

Back 15

A way of dividing the power of government among the legislative, executive and judicial branches, each staffed separately, with equality and independence of each branch ensured by the Constitution.

Front 16

Checks and Balances

Back 16

A constitutionally mandated structure that gives each of the three branches of governemnt some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others.

Front 17

Federal System

Back 17

Plan of government in which power is divided between the national government and the state government and in which independent states are bound together under one national government, whose power is supreme.

Front 18

Enumerated Powers

Back 18

Seventeen specific powers granted to Congress under Article I, section 8, of the Constitution.

Front 19

Necessary and Proper Clause

Back 19

The final paragraph of Article I, section 8 of the Constitution, which gives Congress the authority to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers specified in the Constitution. Also called the Elastic Clause.

Front 20

Implied Powers

Back 20

Powers derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper claise. These powers are not stated specifically but are considered to be reasonably implied through the exercise of delegated powers.

Front 21

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Back 21

Provision of the Constitution that mandates states to honor the laws and judicial proceedings of other states.

Front 22

Supremacy Clause

Back 22

Portion of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution mandating that national law is supreme to (that is, supersedes) all other laws passed by the states of by any subdivision of governement.

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Federalists

Back 23

Those who favor a stronger national government and supported the proposed U.S. Constitution; later became the first U.S. political party.

Front 24

Anti-Federalists

Back 24

Those who favored strong state government and a weak national government; opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Front 25

The Federalist Papers

Back 25

A series of 85 political papers written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay in support of ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Front 26

Bill of Rights

Back 26

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which largely guarantees specific rights and liberties.