Chapter 2 Vocabulary Review AP Government

2) The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens. Limited Government

3) A nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. It can be written or unwritten. Constitution

4) The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of U.S. government, the tasks these institutions perform, and the relationship among them. It replaced the Articles of Confederation. U.S. Constitution

5) A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers to block foreclosure proceedings. Shay’s Rebellion

6) The first 10 amendments to the U. S 6) The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalists’ concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and they guarantee defendants’ rights. Bill of Rights

7) Groups such as interest groups, that according to James Madison, arise from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and have the potential to cause instability in the government. Factions

8) A set of 85 essays that advocate the ratification of the Constitution and provide insightful commentary on the nature of the new system of government. Federalist Papers

9) A form of government in which the people select the representatives to govern them and make laws. Republic

10) The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and those of the executive branch are in accord with the U.S. Constitution. This power was established by Marbury v. Madison. Judicial Review

Declaration of Independence 11) The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and proclaimed their independence. Declaration of Independence

12) The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation in Congress to be in proportional to each state’s population. Virginia Plan

13) These are inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments and include life, liberty, and property. These are central to English Philosopher John Locke’s theories about government and was widely accepted among America’s founders. Natural Rights

Connecticut Plan aka “Great Compromise” 14) The compromise at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress, the House of Representatives, in which representation is based on a state’s population, and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives. Connecticut Plan aka “Great Compromise”

15) The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the size of the state’s population. New Jersey Plan

16) A feature of the Constitution that requires each of the three branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial – to be relatively independent of the others so that no one branch can control the other. Power is shared among these three institutions. Separation of Powers

Articles of Confederation 17) The first constitution of the U.S., adopted in 1777 and ratified by Congress in 1781. The Articles established the Continental Congress as the national legislature, but left most authority with the state legislatures. Articles of Confederation

18) Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption. Federalists

Equal Rights Amendment 19) A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.” The amendment failed to acquire the necessary support of three-fourths of the state legislatures. Equal Rights Amendment

20) The concept that government derives its authority from the people. Consent of the governed

21) Opponents of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption. Anti-Federalists

22) The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court asserted its power to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court’s power of judicial review over acts of Congress. Marbury v. Madison

23) "friend of the court." Frequently, a person or group who is not a party to an action, but has a strong interest in the matter, will petition the court for permission to submit a brief in the action with the intent of influencing the court's decision. Amicus Curiae Brief

24) Latin for “stand by things decided 24) Latin for “stand by things decided.” The doctrine that rules or principles of law on which a court based a previous decision are authoritative in all future cases in which the facts are substantially the same. Stare Decisis