Exam One - Chapter 2

Front 1

Bicameral

Back 1

Having two legislative houses or chambers - like the House and the Senate.

Front 2

Bill of Rights

Back 2

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, listing the rights guaranteed to every citizen.

Front 3

Classical republicanism

Back 3

A democratic ideal, rooted in ancient Greece and Rome, that requires citizens to participate directly in public affairs, seek the public interest, shun private gains, and defer to natural leaders.

Front 4

Compact

Back 4

A mutual agreement that provides for joint action to achieve defined goals.

Front 5

Confederation

Back 5

A group of independent states or nations that yield some of their powers to a national government, although each state retains a degree of sovereign authority.

Front 6

Covenant

Back 6

A compact invoking religious or moral authority.

Front 7

Delegate representation

Back 7

When representatives follow expressed wishes of the voters.

Front 8

Electoral College

Back 8

The system established by the Constitution to elect the president; each state has a group of electors (equal in size to that of its congressional delegation in the House and the Senate); the public in each state votes for electors who then vote for the president.

Front 9

Federalism

Back 9

Power divided between national and state government. Each has its own independent authority and its own duties.

Front 10

First Continental Congress

Back 10

A convention of delegates, from twelve of the thirteen colonies, that met in 1774

Front 11

Incorporation

Back 11

The process by which the Supreme Court declares that a right in the Bill of Rights also applies to state governments.

Front 12

Indentured servant

Back 12

A colonial American settler contracted to work for a fixed period (usually three to seven years) in exchange for food, shelter, and transportation to the New World.

Front 13

Mercantilism

Back 13

An economic theory according to which government controls foreign trade to maintain prosperity and security.

Front 14

New Jersey Plan

Back 14

Put forward at the convention by the small states, it left most government authority with the state governments.

Front 15

Originalism

Back 15

A principle of legal interpretation that relies on the original meaning of those who wrote the Constitution.

Front 16

Pragmatism

Back 16

A principle of legal interpretation based on the idea that the Constitution evolves and that it must be put in the context of contemporary realities.

Front 17

Second Continental Congress

Back 17

A convention of delegates form the thirteen colonies that became the acting national government for the duration of the Revolutionary War.

Front 18

Trustee representation

Back 18

Representatives do what they regard as the best interest of the voters - independent of what the voters want.

Front 19

Unicameral

Back 19

Having a single legislative house or chamber.

Front 20

Virginia Plan

Back 20

Madison's plan, embraced by Constitutional Convention delegates from larger states; strengthened the national government relative to state governments.