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American Government
Unit 2 test
29
History
11th Grade
09/14/2010

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Term
Landmark English documents that influenced the framers
Definition
*Magna Carta
*Petition of Right
*English Bill of Rights
Term
John Hancock
Definition
President of 2nd Continental Congress
Term
Thomas Jefferson
Definition
Wrote most of the Declaration of Independence
Term
James Madison
Definition
Known as the "Father of the Constitution"
Term
George Washington
Definition
Commander of the Continental Army and first president of the U.S.
Term
What did the Declaration of Independence declare?
Definition
declared the colonies' independence from Britain.
Term
What did the Declaration of Independence announce
Definition
The birth and creation of the United States of America
Term
Taxation without Representation
Definition
Colonists believed they should not have to pay taxes because they had no one to represent (speak for them) in Britain's Parliament - the law-making body of British Government.
Term
First plan of governemnt for the U.S.
Definition
Articles of Confederation
Term
Major weakness of Articles of Confederation
Definition
Congress had no power to make states obey the Articles or national laws.
Term
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
Definition
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Term
Connecticut Compromise
Definition
created Congress as a bicameral (two house) legislature. State representation in the House of Representatives is based on the population of a state. In the Senate, representation is equal as each state gets two senators.
Term
Three-Fifths Compromise
Definition
allowed the states to count three of every five slaves in their state populations.
Term
Why is the 3/5 compromise no longer needed?
Definition
the 13th amendment made slavery illegal in the U.S., so the compromise is no longer in effect.
Term
Federalists
Definition
supported ratification of the Constitution.
Term
Anti-Federalists
Definition
were against the Constitution because:

1. they thought it gave too much power to the national (federal) government

2. it did not contain a listing of individual rights and freedoms - a Bill of Rights
Term
Popular Sovereignty
Definition
the people are the power to U.S. government
Term
Limited Government
Definition
Government can do only what the people allow it to do, and must obey the Constitution
Term
Separation of Powers
Definition
Powers of government are divided among the three branches: legislative, executive and judicial
Term
Checks & Balances
Definition
Each branch has powers to stop (check) actions of the other branches.
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
Powers of federal courts to look over laws and other government actions and determine if they're fair and legal according to the Constitution
Term
Federalism
Definition
Government power is divided between the federal (national) government and the state governments.
Term
amendment
Definition
change or addition to the Constitution
Term
1st method of amending the Constitution
Definition
A proposed amendment is passed by both houses of Congress, and then must be approved by 3/4's (38 of 50) of the state legislatures.
Term
Other ways to amend Constitution - Political Parties
Definition
Are not mentioned in the Cosntitution, but exist and exert great influence. For example, Congress is organized around political parties, and presidential nominees are determined through a nomination process centered around political parties
Term
Other ways to amend Constitution - Executive Action
Definition
actions taken by the president within the powers of the office
Term
Other ways to amend Constitution - Congress
Definition
Has passed many laws to define what the Constitution says
Term
Other ways to amend the Constitution - Courts
Definition
Through judicial review, courts interpret a law to determine if it agrees with the Constitution. if not, a law is cancelled or must be changed.
Term
Other ways to amend the Constitution - Custom
Definition
Many things have been done simply becuase they make sense, or because it is the way it has always been done. For example, several presidents have died in office, and the V. P. has always taken over. However, the Constitution did not make this action a law until 1967.
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