Chapter 2 Terms
What is the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt at a new American government. It ultimately failed because it restricted the national government too much and was replaced by the Constitution.
What is the confederal government?
The confederal government is a form of government in which states hold the power over a limited national government.
What are the 3 branches of government?
The 3 branches of government are Legislative, Judicial, and Executive.
What is the US Constitution?
The US Constitution established the national government and fundamental laws. It also guarantees basic rights to the citizens.
Who were the Federalists?
The Federalists were those at the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong national government and a system of separated powers.
What is the "consent of the governed?"
The "consent of the governed" is the idea that the government gains its legitimacy through regular elections in which the people living under the government participate to elect their leaders.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
The Tenth Amendment states that powers that's not delegated to the US by the Constitution and isn't prohibited to it by the states, are reserved to the states or people.
What is the Legislative Branch?
The Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representative and the Senate. They have the power to make laws, declare war, regulate commerce, and control tax.
What are the first three articles of the Constitution?
The first three articles of the Constitution are the Legislative Branch, the Judicial Branch, and the Executive Branch. It talks about the branch and how they are elected in.
Who were the Antifederalists?
The Antifederalists were those at the Constitutional Convention who favored strong state governments and feared that a strong national government would be a threat to individual rights.
What is the Great Compromise?
The Great Compromise is a compromise between the large and small states, in which Congress would have two houses: a Senate with two legislatures per state and a House of Representatives, in which representative count would be based on population.
What is the states' sovereign immunity?
The states' sovereign immunity was based on the Eleventh Amendment and it prevented state governments from being sued by private parties in federal court unless the state consents to the suit.
What is the Judicial Branch?
The Judicial Branch interprets the law and applies it into legal cases. The branch is made up of the Supreme Court, State Court, and City Court.
What is Article IV of the Constitution?
Article IV of the Constitution talks about the states and their relationship to the federal government. It also talks about how states are equal to each other and they should respect each others' laws.
What did the Federalists believe?
The Federalists believed that a strong central government was necessary because it could best protect the individual citizen's rights and freedoms. They thought the 3 sections of government would protect the people through different but equal power.
What is the national supremacy clause?
The national supremacy clause is part of Article VI of the Constitution and it states how national laws take precedence over state laws if the two conflict.
What happened in McCulloch v. Maryland?
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court ruled that Maryland did not have the power to tax the Second Bank of the US and that Congress had the power to create the bank under the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause.
What is the Executive Branch?
The Executive Branch is in charge of the execution and enforcement of laws and policies. They have the power to veto bills passed in congress and make treaties with other countries, under the Senate's approval.
What is Article V of the Constitution?
Article V of the Constitution is about the amendments and it states how future generations are allowed to change the Constitution if needed. States and Congress have the power to initiate the process.
What did the Antifederalists believe?
The Antifederalists believed that the Constitution stood only limited the government and not the people. They thought that the Constitution would give the central government too much power.
What is the executive powers clause?
The executive powers clause is part of Article I of the Constitution. It states how the President of the US has executive power and it has been used to justify many assertions of presidential power.
What happened in United States v. Lopez?
In the United States v. Lopez, a student was arrested for carrying a loaded firearm in class. It showed that Congress would need to demonstrate that law in question was a legitimate exercise of the commerce clause powers.
What are checks and balances?
Checks and balances allows each of the 3 branches of government to limit the powers of each other. This allows for balance and makes sure no one has too much power over each other.
What is Article VI of the Constitution?
Article VI of the Constitution is about debts, supremacy, and oaths. It states that all officials need to swear an oath to the Constitution, since it is the supreme law of the land.
What was the compromise between the Federalists and Antifederalists?
The compromise between the two groups was the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was designed to protect the rights of US citizens and it consists of the first ten amendments of the Constitution.