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| 4914514819 | Declaration of Independence | A document approved by the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British and declared their independence. | 0 | |
| 4914517371 | Bill of Rights | The first 10 amendment to the Constitution, drafted in response to the concerns of the Anti-Federalists | 1 | |
| 4914523985 | writ of habeas corpus | A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody. | 2 | |
| 4914526426 | natural rights | Inherent rights of human beings, not dependent on governments. A central idea behind John Locke's theories about government. | 3 | |
| 4914529073 | Federalist Papers | A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison that appeared in New York newspapers defending the Constitution | 4 | |
| 4914531740 | Shay's Rebellion | A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers to block foreclosure proceedings | 5 | |
| 4914535634 | judicial review | The power of the courts to determine the Constitutionality of acts of government | 6 | |
| 4914537795 | Equal Rights Amendment | An amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that a person's rights shall not be infringed based on gender. The amendment failed to be ratified | 7 | |
| 4914541222 | consent of the governed | The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people | 8 | |
| 4914541223 | Marbury v. Madison | A landmark 1803 case in which the Supreme Court first asserted their power of judicial review. | 9 | |
| 4914545581 | constitution | A nation's basic law, which creates political institutions, divides power, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens | 10 | |
| 4914548641 | New Jersey Plan | A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress without regard to population. | 11 | |
| 4914551104 | republic | A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws | 12 | |
| 4914553968 | Articles of Confederation | The first Constitution of the United States. Adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. Created a unicameral legislature, with the states retaining most of the power | 13 | |
| 4914555639 | checks and balances | Features in the Constitution which balances the power among the governmental institutions and allows them to continually constrain one another's activities | 14 | |
| 4914558527 | Virginia Plan | A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress based on their population | 15 | |
| 4914564524 | factions | Interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of wealth that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper No. 10. | 16 | |
| 4914567166 | separation of powers | A feature of the Constitution that requires each of the three branches of government to be independent of the others so that one cannot control the others | 17 | |
| 4914569630 | Connecticut Compromise | An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention which established a bicameral Congress. One house comprised of equal representation, with the other house based on population | 18 | |
| 4914573075 | Federalists | Supporters of the ratification of the US Constitution led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay | 19 |
