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corsha harris


Written plan for government.


were divided into two parts,or houses.


is a group of individual state governments that band together for common purpose.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. The Articles established a national legislature, the Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatures.


approved the Articles of Confederation

Shay's Rebellion

was led by Daniel Shays it was a protest against the land being taken away and the taxes that they had just worked so hard to get rid of

Constitutional Convention

a meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution

Virginia Plan

Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population

New Jersey Plan

New Jersey delegate William Peterson's plan of government, in which states got an equal number of representatives in Congress

Great Compromise

a compromise is a way of resolving disagreements in which each side gives up something but gains something else.

3/5 Compromise

delegates agreed that every five enslaved person would count as three free persons.

Electoral College

a group of people who would be named by each state legislature.


Supporters of the document.




those who opposed the constitution.


an introduction that states and goals and purposes of the government.

legislative branch

the branch of government that makes the laws.

executive branch

law enforce branch of government

judicial branch

part of government that interprets the laws and sees that they are fairly applied.


Any change in the Constitution.

implied powers

powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution

popular sovereignty

the idea that the power of government lies with the people.

rule of law

the law applies to everyone.

separation of law

division of authority.

checks and balances


expressed powers

the powers specifically granted to the national government into three types.

reserved powers


concurrent powers

powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments

Supremacy Clause


Civil Liberties

freedom to think and act without government interference


banning offensive or alarming information


harming someone's reputation by speaking lies


harming someone's reputation by printing lies


formal request, often in the form of a brief or letter

Search Warrant

court order allowing police to search private property and gather



grand jury

a group of citizens that decides whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime

double jeopardy

being tried twice for the same crime

Due process

following established legal procedures

Eminent domain

right of government to take private property for public use




right to vote

Poll taxes

sum of money paid before casting a ballot


unfair treatment of certain groups because of prejudice


social separation of the races

Civil Rights

freedom of full citizenship and equality under the law

Affirmative action

programs that try to make up for past discrimination

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