Foundations of American Government
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30 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 amendment | any change to the Constitution |
| anti-Federalist | someone that was against the Constitution |
| Articles of Confederation | established the first form of national government for the independent colonies |
| Bill of Rights | the first 10 amendments to the Constitution |
| Charters of the Virginia Company of London | guaranteed the colonists the same rights as Englishmen |
| Congress | lawmaking body of the national government (made up of 2 houses: Senate and House of Representatives) |
| consent of the governed | people are the source of all governmental power, popular sovereignty |
| Constitution of the United States | document that outlines the structure and powers of our national government |
| Constitution of Virginia | document that outlines the structure and power of our state government |
| democracy | rule by the people |
| Federalist | a person in favor of the Constitution |
| General Assembly | the lawmaking body at the state (Virginia) level of government |
| government | ... |
| limited government | The government may do only what the people have given it the power to do. ex: Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances. The government is not all powerful |
| Magna Carta | document that limited the powers of the King. |
| majority rule | do what most people want |
| Parliament | lawmaking body in British government |
| preamble | introduction to the Constitution |
| ratify/ratification | to approve |
| republic | democratic form of government, uses a representative democracy |
| rule of law | one of the 5 fundamental principles of government, states that all persons even those that govern must obey the law. |
| statute | a law |
| tranquility | peacefull |
| unalienable (individual) rights | your personal rights that can not be taken away |
| Virginia Declaration of Rights | written by George Mason, served as a model for the Bill of Rights |
| Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom | written by Thomas Jefferson, states that a person has the right to practice any religion he/she chooses, served as a model for religion clauses in the Constitution and Bill of Rights |
| Declaration of Independence | primary author Thomas Jefferson, declared the colonies independent from Great Brittain |
| Convention | gathering or meeting to discuss ideas |
| representative government | elect officials to speak and vote on our behalf in government. ex. Senators and House of Representatives members |
| freedom | being allowed to make your own choices |
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