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Stack #4643575
| term | definition |
|---|---|
| constitution | a detailed written plan for government |
| articles of confederation | the first constitution of the United States |
| bicameral | a legislature consisting of 2 parts or houses |
| ratify | to vote approval of |
| northwest ordinance | 1787 law that set up a government for the northwest territory and a plan for admitting new states to the union |
| Shay's rebellion | an uprising of Massachusetts farmers who did not want to lose their farms because of debt caused by heavy state taxes after the American Revolution |
| Constitution convention | meeting of states delegates in 1787 leading to adoption of a new constitution |
| great compromise | agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation |
| three-fifths compromise | agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as 3-5 of other persons in determining representation in congress |
| electoral college | a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president |
| federalist | a supporter of the constitution |
| anti-federalist | a person who opposed ratification of the constitution |
| federalism | a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the state |
| preamble | the opening section of the constitution |
| article | one of several main parts of the constitution |
| amendment | any change in contitution |
| legislative branch | the lawmaking branch of government |
| judicial branch | the branch of government that interprets laws |
| executive branch | the branch of government that carries out laws |
| checks and balances | a system in which each branch of government is able to check or restrain the power of the others |
| separation of powers | the split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
| enumerated powers | power directly granted to the national government by the constitution |
| reserved powers | power the constitution does not give to the federal government; powers set aside for the states |