American Government: Power And Purpose Chapter 2 (Brief Twelfth Edition)

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of Confederation and Perpetual Union were the formal basis for America's national government until 1789, when they were superseded by the Contitution.

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 bt lnked representation in the HOR to population.

Front 3

Three-fifths Compromise

Back 3

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 stipulating that for purposes of the appointment 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 houses or chambers.

Front 5

Expressed Power

Back 5

The notion that the Constitution grants to the federal government only those powers specifically named in its text.

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Neccessary and Proper Clause

Back 6

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress wth the authority to make all loaws "neccessary 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.

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Supremacy Clause

Back 8

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

Front 9

Separation of Powers

Back 9

The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making,

Front 10

Federalism

Back 10

The system of government in which a constitution divides power between a central and a regional government.

Front 11

Bill of Rights

Back 11

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791. It Ensures certain rights and liberties to the people.

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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 braches.

Front 13

Federalists

Back 13

Those who favored a strong national government and supported the Constitution.

Front 14

Antifederalists

Back 14

Those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the Constitution.