Flashcards: Government
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Created by:
JeffBrewton on March 3, 2009
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Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 U.S. Constitution | Outlines the set up and powers of the government. Supreme Law of the land. Separates the powers into three branches |
| Marbury v. Madison | The judgment by the Supreme Court which established the principle of judicial review, the power of the judiciary to declare a law unconstitutional |
| Dred Scott v. Sandford | A Supreme Court decision which increased sectionalism because it said that African Americans were not citizens and the Missouri Compromise was not constitutional |
| Unalienable Rights | Natural rights guaranteed to people naturally, not by law, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These rights cannot be taken away without due process of law. |
| Philadelphia Convention | (Constitutional Convention) 1787 meeting in which delegates created a new form of government to replace the ineffective Article of Confederation. This new government was called the US Constitution |
| Virginia Plan | Plan of government with two houses, with representation in both housed being based on population of the state. The larger states supported this plan. |
| New Jersey Plan | Plan of government with one house, with representation being equal for each state regardless of the size. |
| Great Compromise | Combination of the VA and NJ plans, it established a bicameral legislature. Senate would have 2 reps per state. The House of Representatives would have reps. based on each state's population. |
| Popular Sovereignty | Government in which the people rule |
| Republicanism | people exercise their power by voting for their elected representatives |
| Federalism | government in which power is shared between the states and Federal governments |
| Separation of Powers | Power is divided equally into 3 branches; Legislative, Executive, and Judicial |
| Checks and Balances | to ensure separation of powers, each branch can exercise checks, or controls, over the other branches |
| Limited Government | Everyone must obey the law |
| Individual Rights | personal liberties and privileges guaranteed by the Bill of Rights |
| Amendment Process | To propose an amendment - 2/3rds of Congress or the state legislatures |
| McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden | Supreme Court decisions that strengthen the federal government and national unity |