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constitution
document or set of documents that sets forth the basic rules and procedures for how a society shall be governed
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boston tea party (1774)
protest in which colonists dressed as indians boarded vessels in boston harbor and threw chests of tea overboard to express anger at britain's tax policies and commercial regulations
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continental congress
initial governing authority over the revolutionary war and other common affairs of the 13th independent states
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decl. of independence
document declaring american independence from great britain and calling for equality, human rights, and public participation
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articlees of confederation
initial governing authority of the u.s.
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shay's rebellion
revolt by massachusetts farmers against heavy debts; helped convince states that neither the state nor federal gov. were functioning properly
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constitutional convention
meeting by twelve states to revise the articles of confederation; ended up proposing an entirely new constitution
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virginia plan
madison's proposal at the constitutional convention to radically strengthen the national gov.
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proportional representation
system of legislative districting in which larger states receive more representatives than smaller states
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new jersey plan
counterproposal to the virginia plan, aimed to strengthen the articles of confederation but leave the basic working of the articles intact.
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connecticut compromise
compramise or legislative representation whereby the lower chamber is based on population and the upper chamber provides equal representation fo the states
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enumerated powers
powers of congress listed in article 1, section 8 of the constitution, such as regulation commerce and coining money
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three-fifths compromise
compromise over slavery at the constitutional convention that granted states extra representation in the house of representatives based on their number of slaves at the ration of 3/5ths
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electoral college
the presidential electors, selected to represent the votes of their respective states, who meet every 4 years to cast the electoral votes for president and vp
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bill of rights
first 10 amendments to the constitution, which provide basic political rights
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bicameral
two-chamber legislature, as the house and the senate
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veto
authority of the president to block legislation passed by congress. congress can override vetoes by 2/3 majority in each chamber
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override
congress's power to overturn a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote in each chamber
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impeach
authority of the house of reps to bring harges against teh president and other federal officials
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judicial review
authority of courts to declare laws passed by congress and acts of the executive branch to be unconstitutional
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amendment
formal process of changing the constitution
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federalist 51
written by james madison, discusses the needs for checks and balances in gov.
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federalism
system of gov in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between national and state govs
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separation of powers
gov. structure in which authority is divided among branches, with each holding separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility
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checks and balances
gov. structure that authorizes each branch of gov. to share powers with the other branches, thereby holding some scrutiny of and control over the other branches
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writ of habeas corpus
right of individuals who have been arrested and jailed to go before a judge who determines if their imprisonment is legal
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federalists
initially, those who supported the constitution during the ratification period; later, the name of the political party established by supporters of alexander hamilton
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antifederalists
those who opposed the newly proposed constitution during the ratification period
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federalist papers
series of essays written by james madison, alexander hamilton, and john jay arguing for the ratification of the constitution; today a leading source for understanding the constitution
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general welfare clause (article 1, sectin 8)
gives congress the power to tax to provide for the general welfare
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necessary and proper clause (article 1, section 8)
gives congress the power to pass all laws necessary to proper to the powers enumerated in section 8.
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implied powers
powers not explicitly granted to congress but added through the necessary and proper clause
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