UNIT 4 VOCAB

CONFEDERATION A UNION OF STATES IN WHICH EACH MEMBER STATE RETAINS SOME INDEPENDENT CONTROL OVER INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

CONSTITUTION THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW, WRITTEN OR UNWRITTEN, THAT ESTABLISHES THE CHARACTER OF A GOVERNMENT BY DEFINING THE BASIC PRINCIPLES TO WHICH A SOCIETY MUST CONFORM; BY DESCRIBING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND LIMITATIONS ON THE FUNCTIONS OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS; AND BY PRESCRIBING THE EXTENT AND MANNER OF THE EXERCISE OF ITS SOVEREIGN POWERS.

COMPROMISE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN OPPOSING PARTIES TO SETTLE A DISPUTE OR REACH A SETTLEMENT IN WHICH EACH GIVES SOME GROUND, RATHER THAN CONTINUE THE DISPUTE

RATIFICATION PROCESS OF APPROVING THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION ( ), FORMALLY THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND PERPETUAL UNION, WAS AN AGREEMENT AMONG THE 13 FOUNDING STATES THAT LEGALLY ESTABLISHED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS A CONFEDERATION OF SOVEREIGN STATES AND SERVED AS ITS FIRST CONSTITUTION

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE WAS AN ACT OF THE CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION OF THE UNITED STATES, PASSED JULY 13, THE PRIMARY EFFECT OF THE ORDINANCE WAS THE CREATION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY AS THE FIRST ORGANIZED TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES OUT OF THE REGION SOUTH OF THE GREAT LAKES, NORTH AND WEST OF THE OHIO RIVER, AND EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

SHAYS' REBELLION WAS AN ARMED UPRISING THAT TOOK PLACE IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS FROM 1786 TO THE REBELLION WAS NAMED AFTER DANIEL SHAYS, A VETERAN OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND ONE OF THE REBEL LEADERS.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION THE CONVENTION OF UNITED STATES STATESMEN WHO DRAFTED THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION IN 1787

"GREAT COMPROMISE" WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT LARGE AND SMALL STATES REACHED DURING THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1787 THAT IN PART DEFINED THE LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE AND REPRESENTATION THAT EACH STATE WOULD HAVE UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. IT RETAINED THE BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE AS PROPOSED BY JAMES MADISON, ALONG WITH PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THE LOWER HOUSE, BUT REQUIRED THE UPPER HOUSE TO BE WEIGHTED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE STATES.

"THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE" WAS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN STATES REACHED DURING THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION OF 1787 IN WHICH THREE-FIFTHS OF THE ENUMERATED POPULATION OF SLAVES WOULD BE COUNTED FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSES REGARDING BOTH THE DISTRIBUTION OF TAXES AND THE APPORTIONMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

REPUBLICANISM THE IDEOLOGY OF GOVERNING A NATION AS A REPUBLIC, WHERE THE HEAD OF STATE IS APPOINTED BY MEANS OTHER THAN HEREDITY, OFTEN ELECTIONS. THE EXACT MEANING OF REPUBLICANISM VARIES DEPENDING ON THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT. SEVERAL DEFINITIONS ARE COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE.

FEDERALISM FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH SEPARATE STATES UNITE UNDER A CENTRAL AUTHORITY WHILE RETAINING LIMITED POWERS OF GOVERNMENT; PRINCIPLES OF THE FEDERALIST PARTY

CHECKS AND BALANCES SYSTEM OF RESTRICTIONS WITHIN A GOVERNMENT SO THAT ONE AGENCY DOES NOT HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER (EX: U.S. CONGRESS APPROVES THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET MEMBERS AND SUPREME COURT JUSTICES)

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY THE CONCEPT THAT POLITICAL POWER RESTS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO CAN CREATE, ALTER, AND ABOLISH GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH VOTING AND FREE PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT

LIMITED GOVERNMENT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS DEFINE THE LIMITS OF THOSE IN POWER SO THEY CANNOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ELECTED, APPOINTED, OR INHERITED POSITIONS. EVERYONE, INCLUDING ALL AUTHORITY FIGURES, MUST OBEY THE LAWS (RULE OF LAW). GOVERNMENT IS RESTRICTED IN WHAT IT MAY DO.

AMENDMENT AN IMPROVED CHANGE MADE TO A PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED LAW OR MOTION

FEDERALISTS ARGUED FOR A STRONGER NATIONAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION, THE WEAK NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SET THE UNITED STATES UP FOR FAILURE

ANTI-FEDERALISTS ARGUED THAT STATES’ RIGHTS SHOULD REMAIN POWERFUL OVER KEY ISSUES; REMAINED OF THE OPINION THAT WE FOUGHT THE REVOLUTION TO GET AWAY FROM STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT; BELIEVED THAT THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD PROTECT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

FEDERALIST PAPERS SUPPORT RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION WITH A FOCUS ON THE NEED FOR A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WITH RESTRICTED POWERS (THE CONSTITUTION SETS UP FOR A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WITH SEPARATED POWERS AND A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.)