Articles of Confederation
What was America's first national framework of government?
The Articles of Confederation
In what year did the Constitutional Convention meet?
1787
Which group supported the ratification of the Constitution?
Federalists
What principle allows branches of government to limit one another's power?
Checks and Balances
What is the division of power between national and state governments called?
Federalism
Under the Articles of Confederation, where was most of the power?
States
Which plan favored large states by basing representation on population?
Virginia Plan
Which group feared the proposed national government would threaten individual rights?
Anti-Federalists
What fraction of votes is required in both houses of Congress to override a presidential veto?
2/3
Which Enlightenment philosopher influenced American ideas about natural rights and government by consent?
Locke
What uprising revealed the national government's difficulty responding to domestic unrest?
Shay's Rebellion
Which plan called for equal representation for each state?
New Jersey Plan
What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called?
Bill of Rights
What is the power of courts to determine whether laws violate the Constitution called?
Judicial Review
Who is known as the "Father of the Constitution?"
James Madison
What important power did Congress lack under the Articles of Confederation?
The power to tax
What issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise address?
How enslaved people would be counted for the population
Name one of the three authors of the Federalist Papers
James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton
What principle divides government responsibilities among three branches?
Separation of Powers
What are powers shared by national and state governments called?
Concurrent Powers
What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 establish?
A process for territories to become states, while prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory.
What was the Great Compromise?
A House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.
What were the Federalist Papers written to encourage?
Ratification of the Constitution
What does the Supremacy Clause establish?
The Constitution and federal laws take priority over conflicting state laws
What ordinance established a method for surveying and dividing western land?
Land Ordinance of 1785