Snip Dec & Constitution

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