Foundations
Compromises & Plans
Branches & Powers
Ratification & Politics
Key Events & Terms
100

This document is the supreme law of the United States.

Constitution 

100

Plan that proposed representation by population (favored large states).

The Virginia Plan

100

Branch that interprets laws and reviews constitutionality and serves for life.

Judicial

100

What was added to the Constitution to secure support from skeptics?

Bill of Rights

100

Where did the constitutional convention take place?

Philadelphia 

200

System where power is shared between national and state governments.

Federalism

200

Plan that proposed equal representation for each state (favored small states).

The New Jersey Plan

200

Power of the executive to refuse a bill.

Veto

200

Group that supported a stronger national government and the Constitution.

Federalists

200

The first national government plan before the Constitution.

Articles of Confederation 

300

Who is the considered the father of the constitution? 

James Madison 
300

Plan that created a two-house legislature. In this plan the house would be based on population and the Senate would be equal.

The Great Compromise

300

System that allows branches to limit the powers of the other branches. This ensures that no one branch becomes too powerful. 

Checks and Balances 
300

Group that opposed a strong national government and wanted rights protected.

Anti-Federalists

300

To approve officially (as when states accept the Constitution).

Ratify

400

Term for when government authority restricted by law or a constitution.

Limited Government 

400

The plan that counted slaves as a fraction of the population when it came to representation. 

The 3/5th's compromise

400

Which branch has the power to declare war?

Legislative 

400

Number of states required to ratify the Constitution

9

400

Two-house legislature is called this.

Bicameral 

500

Principle that assigns different government functions and jobs to the three branches.

Separation of Powers

500

Event that exposed weaknesses of the Articles and helped prompt the Convention.

Shay's Rebellion 

500

Term for republic practice: citizens elect people to govern.

Republicanism 

500

Phrase meaning 'power comes from the people'.

Popular Sovereignty 

500

To formally change the Constitution is to do this.

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