Government ND ch 2
Order by
28 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Magna Charta | "Great Charter" 1215 Granted Englishmen the -Right of trial by jury -King must consult a group of nobles to raise taxes |
| Parliament | the lawmaking branch of the british government |
| Petition of Right | A document drawn up by Parliament's House of Commons listing grievances against King Charles I and extending Parliament's powers while limiting the king's. It gave Parliament authority over taxation, declared that free citizens could not be arrested without cause, declared that soldiers could not be quartered in private homes without compensation, and said that martial law cannot be declared during peacetime. |
| English Bill of Rights | 1689 document declaring Parliament would choose who ruled England, that the ruler could not tax without Parliamentary consent, that the ruler could not suspend Parliament, that the ruler was subject to all laws, that Parliament was to meet frequently, that MPs were guaranteed freedom of speech, and that cruel and unusual punishment was illegal. |
| Common Law | a system of law based on precedent and customs |
| Precedent | An act or statement that may serve as an example or justification for a later one |
| Charter | a written document granting land and the authority to set up colonial governments |
| Proprietor | An owner of a store or other business. |
| Assembly | a lawmaking body of government made up of a group of citizens |
| Burgess | n. In colonial times, a member of the lower house of the legislature of Maryland or Virginia. |
| Mayflower Compact | This document was drafted in 1620 prior to settlement by the Pilgrims at Plymouth Bay in Massachusetts. It declared that the 41 males who signed it agreed to accept majority rule and participate in a government in the best interest of all members of the colony. This agreement set the precedent for later documents outlining commonwealth rule. |
| Fundamental Orders | In 1639 the Connecticut River colony settlers had an open meeting and they established a constitution called the Fundamental Orders. It made a Democratic government. It was the first constitution in the colonies and was a beginning for the other states' charters and constitutions. |
| Salutary Neglect | an english policy of relaxing the enforcement of regulations in its colonies in return for the colonies' continued economic loyalty. |
| Albany Plan of Union | plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown |
| Stamp Act | A tax that the British Pariliament placed on newspapers and official documents sold in the American Colonies |
| Intolerable Acts | in response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troop's in barns and empty houses |
| Bicameral | based on two legislative bodies |
| Unicameral | composed of one legislative body |
| Bill of Rights | a statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution) |
| Articles of Confederation | This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage. |
| Ratification | Method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law |
| Northwest Ordinance | Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states |
| Quorum | The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action |
| Virginia Plan | Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states. |
| New Jersey Plan | New Jersey delegate William Paterson's plan of government, in which states got an equal number of representatives in Congress |
| Great Compromise | Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house |
| Federalists | supporters of the stronger central govt. who advocated the ratification of the new constitution |
| Antifederalists | opponents of a strong central government who campaigned against the ratification of the Constitution in favor of a confederation of independant states |
First Time Here?
Welcome to Quizlet, a fun, free place to study. Try these flashcards, find others to study, or make your own.