Terms : Hide Images
| 63858779 | declaration of independence | document that claimed Britain broke the social contract and violated our national rights | |
| 63858780 | rule of law | a society governed by laws that are applied equally to all people. (imp. feature of democracies) | |
| 63858781 | federalism | Government that shares power between a national government and state or regional governments | |
| 63858782 | veto | a presidential refusal to approve a law | |
| 63858783 | ratify | to approve formally; this was a difficult process for the constitution | |
| 63858784 | bicameral | Made of two legislature units or houses; the constitution sets up this style of gov't | |
| 63858785 | limited gov't | Government power is restricted by a Constitution (gov't is put in a "box") | |
| 63858786 | popular sovereignty | Political idea that says citizens or "the people" hold government authority | |
| 63858787 | enumerated | Powers granted to government that are expressly written in the Constitution. | |
| 63858788 | checks and balances | giving each Branch of gov't powers that can restrict the other 2 branches powers (example: congress needs a presidential signature for a bill to pass) | |
| 63858789 | constitution | A set of basic principles that determines the powers and duties of American government | |
| 63858790 | articles of confederation | the original framework for american gov't; was very WEAK, states had majority of powers | |
| 63858791 | supremacy doctrine | no law can violate the constitution; the constitution is the supreme law of the land | |
| 63858792 | john locke | The U.S. government principles were founded on the social contract theory written by this English guy | |
| 63858793 | bill of rights | the 1st 10 amendments to the constitution;written in 1791 by James Madison; were added to satisfy critics of the const. | |
| 63858794 | shays rebellion | this revolt/protest in Mass. showed the articles of confederation were very weak because they could not stop armed citizens from shutting down courts | |
| 63858795 | taxation without representation | colonists were angry that they did not have representatives in the English Parliament; major cause for declaring independence | |
| 63858796 | voters | power in a democracy ultimately comes from this group of citizens | |
| 63858797 | necessary and proper clause | allows congress to do things that are unwritten in the constitution as long as relate to their enumerated powers (ex. tax powers) | |
| 63858798 | virginia plan | plan where votes in congress would be based on population (big states rule) | |
| 63858799 | new jersey plan | plan where all states get equal power or votes in congress (small states have more power) | |
| 63858800 | great compromise | combining the VA & NJ plans to create a bicameral legislature (house & senate) | |
| 63858801 | 3/5 compromise | slaves count 60% (3/5) toward a states representation in the House | |
| 63858802 | separation of powers | dividing up gov't powers between the 3 branches; ensures they will have to cooperate | |
| 63858803 | amendment | formal change to constitution | |
| 306903327 | taxation without representation | colonist argument that British laws were unfair because americans could NOT vote for the rep's in parliament that created those laws |
