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52 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Baron de Montesquieu |
He provided the idea of checks and balances and separation of powers |
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Voltaire |
"I may not agree with a word that you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it" was a phrase spoken by this philosopher |
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Articles of Confederation |
This was America's 1st attempt at a constitution; it gave far too much power to the state governments and not enough power to the National Government |
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Great Compromise |
This settled the issue of representation in Congress; each state would send 2 Senators to an upper house and a number of representatives based on their population to a lower house |
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Bicameral |
2-house |
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Federalist Papers |
These were a series of newspaper articles written by individuals such as John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison to encourage support for the Constitution |
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Constitutional Convention |
This 1787 meeting was held in Philadelphia in order to fix the Articles of Confederation; apparently they were not fixable and they were later replaced by another document |
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U.S. Constitution |
This document has provided an outline for American government for over 200 years |
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3/5ths Compromise |
This was a compromise between Northern and Southern states regarding the inclusion of slaves in a count of the population |
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Census |
Conducted every ten years, this is a count of the population in America |
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Ratification |
This means to officially accept |
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Anti-Federalists |
This group of people did not like the Constitution and refused to accept it unless there was a guarantee of personal rights included |
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Bill of Rights |
This is the first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution; they protect individual rights from governmental abuses |
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Federalism |
This refers to the division of power between the state governments and the National Government |
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Popular sovereignty |
This means that the source of all power and authority of the government comes from the people |
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Delegated or Enumerated Powers |
Powers that are specifically granted to the National Government, such as waging war or coining money, are called this... |
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Reserved Powers |
Any power not specifically granted to the National Government, like education & marriage laws, are examples of... (thanks to the 10th Amendment) |
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Concurrent Powers |
Another term for powers shared between the National and state government; taxation, for example |
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Checks and Balances |
This ensures that no one branch of the National government becomes too powerful |
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Executive Branch |
The section of the National Government that is headed up by the President but also includes his advisers and Vice-President |
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Judicial Branch |
The section of the National Government that includes the Supreme Court and all of the federal courts throughout the nation |
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Legislative Branch |
The ____________ is Congress...and they make the laws in the U.S. |
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House of Representatives |
This is the only branch of the National Government that was originally elected directly by the people |
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Elastic Clause |
This allows for flexibility in the Constitution by allowing Congress to make laws that are "necessary and proper" for the running of our government
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Amendment |
This is an addition to the U.S. Constitution |
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Unwritten constitution |
2-term presidency, Presidential cabinet and the 2 (political) party system are all examples of this... |
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Supreme Court Justice |
What role within the National Government serves for life in order to avoid political pressure? |
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Electoral College |
This is a winner-take-all-system by which the President is actually chosen; it was created as a way to double-check the uneducated choices of the American populus |
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Commander-in-Chief |
This describes the role of the President as the leader of our armed forces |
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Marbury vs. Madison |
This set up the system of judicial review, the Supreme Court's ability to determine the constitutionality of a law or action |
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Cabinet |
This is the group of people who advise the President; although not required, every President since George Washington has used one... |
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1st Amendment |
Guarantees freedom of expression |
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2nd Amendment |
Right to bear arms |
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3rd Amendment |
No quartering of troops |
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4th Amendment |
No illegal search and seizure |
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5th Amendment |
Due process of the law, no double jeopardy and no self-incrimination |
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6th Amendment |
Fair, speedy trial |
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7th Amendment |
Jury trial |
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8th Amendment |
No cruel or unusual punishment |
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9th Amendment |
Rights of the people...includes all those things NOT included in the Constitution as rights granted to the people |
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10th Amendment |
What amendment sets up FEDERALISM by specifying that powers NOT given to the National Government are RESERVED (saved) for the states |
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Due Process |
The series of steps that ALL accused criminals are entitled to...no steps can be skipped or ignored |
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Ratification |
To officially accept |
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Third party |
Their ideas are often 'stolen' by the major political parties and become part of American government |
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Lobbying |
What is it called when special interest groups try to influence politicians to support ideas/law that are beneficial to the SIG? |
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2/3rds |
This is the proportional vote needed in both houses of Congress to override a Presidential veto |
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Congressional committee |
In the lawmaking process, this is where factual information is gathered, discussed, debated, revised, etc. |
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Money |
A bill MUST start in the House of Representatives if it deals with what issue? |
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President |
Who NOMINATED federal judges? |
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Judicial Review |
What term refers to the Court's ability to look at laws and determine their constitutionality |
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Washington, D.C. |
Where is the Federal or Central or National Government located? |
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Albany |
Where is the state capital of New York located? |
