Core Vocabulary
Government based on agreement among the people
What is a social contract?
First U.S. government system
What are the Articles of Confederation?
Government is limited by law
What is rule of law?
Who are the Federalists?
Established judicial review
What is Marbury v. Madison?
Rights all people are born with
What are natural rights?
Rebellion that exposed weaknesses of the Articles
What is Shays’ Rebellion?
Power divided among branches
What is separation of powers?
Opposed the Constitution
Who are the Anti-Federalists?
Expanded federal power through implied powers
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
System where citizens vote directly on laws
What is direct democracy?
Plan favoring large states
What is the Virginia Plan?
Branches limit each other
What are checks and balances?
Essays supporting ratification
What are the Federalist Papers?
Clause making federal law supreme
What is the Supremacy Clause?
System where people elect representatives
What is a republic?
Compromise creating two-house legislature
What is the Great Compromise?
Power shared between state and national governments
What is federalism?
Anti-Federalists demanded this for ratification
What is the Bill of Rights?
Clause allowing flexible interpretation of powers
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
This concept means government authority is legitimate only when people consent, not just participate
What is popular sovereignty?
Beyond representation, this compromise also impacted taxation and political power
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
These powers are not explicitly written but are justified through interpretation
What are implied powers?
This was the MAIN fear of Anti-Federalists, beyond just “too much power”
What is tyranny (or loss of individual liberties/rights)?
Expanded Congress’s power over interstate commerce
What is Gibbons v. Ogden?