Constitutional Convention
The person chosen to oversee the Constitutional Convention
George Washington
One characteristics of the Virginia Plan presented by the big states on how to handle representation in the lawmaking body
three branches of government, Legislature divided into two houses, States would be represented based on population
Supported the Constitution and a strong national government
Federalists
Belief the law applies to everyone
rule of law
Article 5
Provides the process for amendments to the Constitution
The two main steps of the amendment process
Proposal and Ratification
The right of government to take private property for public use but required to pay the owner the value of the property
Eminent Domain
Grand Jury
group of citizens who review evidence against the accused
Amendment that gave women the right to vote in national elections
19th Amendment
Gave Congress the power to tax income
16th Amendment
The reason Rhode Island did not attend the Constitutional Convention
Opposed a stronger central government
How representation would look in the New Jersey Plan, favored small states
Equal representation: each state gets one vote
Opposed a strong national government under the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
Belief that power lies with the people
popular sovereignty
Article 2
Details the Executive Branch
The most common way an amendment is proposed
Congressional Action: a vote of 2/3 of members of both houses of Congress
A person is found not guilty of a crime but is put on trial again for the same crime
Double Jeopardy
Second Amendment
Right to bear arms
Right to a militia
Amendment that gave the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
15th Amendment
Amendment that established a direct (popular) vote in elections of United States senators
17th Amendment
The way decisions were made at the Constitutional Convention
majority vote, each state had one vote
3/5ths Compromise
Decision that enslaved people would count as 3/5 of a state's population in Congress
The number of states that needed to vote yes in order to ratify the Constitution
9 out of 13
Each branch of government is able to check the power of the other branches
checks and balances
Article 4
The most common way an amendment is ratified
Vote of the state legislature: 3/4 of states must ratify
To follow the established legal procedures in a criminal court case
Due process
Five basic freedoms protected under the first amendment
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press, Freedom to Petition, Freedom of Assembly
Amendment that outlawed poll taxes
24th Amendment
Amendment that made the term limit of the president of the United States 2 years
22nd Amendment
The reason discussion at the Convention were kept secret
enabled delegates to speak freely without worry of public's reaction
The Great Compromise
Congress would have two houses: One based on population (House of Representatives) and One based on equal representation (Senate)
One argument that the Federalists used to support their stance
split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Separation of powers
Article 6
Constitution is the "Supreme Law of the Land"
Second method of proposing an amendment
National Convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures
a court order allowing a law enforcement officers to search a suspect's home
search warrant
Ninth Amendment: Unwritten Rights
Citizens have rights beyond the ones specifically listed in the Bill of Right
Amendment that moved the voting age from 21 years old to 18 years old
26th Amendment
Amendment that created separate ballots for the president and vice president in elections
12th Amendment
Reason the Constitutional Convention was called in 1787
to strengthen the national government
One characteristic of the compromise that settled argument about how much power the national government had in foreign trade and taxes
Congress had power to regulate trade between states and with foreign countries
Could NOT tax exports
Could NOT interfere with slave trade before 1808
What was added to the Constitution to act as a compromise between the Federalists and Anti-federalists
Bill of Rights
Idea of power being shared by the national government and the states
Federalism
Article 3
Details the Judicial Branch
Second method of ratifying an amendment
Special state convention
The process in a criminal court case in which a group of citizens determine if enough evidence exists to charge a person with a crime
Indictment
Tenth Amendment: Rights Reserved
gives any rights the Constitution does not specifically give to the national government, they are given to the states or the people
Amendment that granted voters in Washington DC the right to vote
23rd Amendment
Amendment that established the exact date (January 20th at noon) after an election when the former president and vice president's term was over and the term of the new president and vice president starts
20th Amendment