Founding Documents
A document that sets out the laws, principles, and processes of a government.
What is a Constitution?
The 1787 law that set up a government for the Northwest Territory.
What is the Northwest Ordinance?
Government by the consent of the governed.
What is Popular Sovereignty?
A person who owes loyalty to a nation and is entitled to its rights.
What is a Citizen?
To approve, as in a state's approval of the Constitution.
What is Ratify?
A British document from 1215 stating that monarchs must obey the laws.
What is the Magna Carta?
The plan calling for a strong national government with two legislative chambers.
What is the Virginia Plan?
The principle where government powers are divided among separate branches.
What is Serparation of Powers?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
What is the Bill of Rights?
To bring charges of serious wrongdoing against a public official.
What is Impeach?
The first American constitution (1777), creating a loose alliance of states
What are the Articles of Confederation?
The plan favored by smaller states calling for a single-chamber legislature
What is the New Jersey Plan?
Government on the county, parish, city, town, or village level.
What is Local Government?
To grant citizenship to someone who has met official requirements.
What is Naturalize?
To overrule, such as when Congress overrules a presidential veto
What is Override?
A 1689 document that guaranteed the rights of English citizens
What is the English Bill of Rights?
The agreement that three-fifths of enslaved residents be counted in the population.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
A government in which one person or a small group holds complete authority
What is a Dictatorship?
A person living in a country where he or she is not a citizen.
What is a Resident Alien?
To give up, as in land or authority.
What is Cede?
Essays by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay in support of the Constitution.
What are the Federalist Papers?
The May 1787 gathering of state reps to revise the Articles of Confederation.
What is the Constitutional Convention?
The willingness to work for the good of the nation, even at great sacrifice.
What is Civic Virtue?
A person who enters another country in order to settle there
What is an Immigrant?
A 1786 revolt in Massachusetts led by farmers against high taxes.
What is Shay's Rebellion?