Constitution Vocabulary

The governing document of the United States that creates 3 equal branches of government

• Constitution

• Articles of Confederation

• Bill of Rights

• Declaration of Independence

First government of the US that lasted for 9 years, and failed due to its absence of a strong central gov’t

• New Jersey Plan

• Articles of Confederation

• Legislature

• Constitution

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual rights

• Great Compromise

• Articles of Confederation

• Bill of Rights

• Checks and Balances

Plan proposed to represent states evenly in Congress

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

• Great Compromise

• Constitution

Plan proposed to represent states based on population in Congress

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

• Great Compromise

• Constitution

The deal between large and small states to create the House and Senate

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

• Great Compromise

• The 3/5 Compromise

Deal between North and South states that slaves will count as ⅗ of a person in representation

• Great Compromise

• The 3/5 Compromise

• The New Jersey Plan

• The Virginia Plan

Two sides or branches (the House of Representatives and the Senate)

• Bicameral

• Unicameral

• Federalism

• Amendment

The division of power between Federal and state governments

• Checks & balances

• Republicanism

• Federalism

• Bicameral

The idea that all three branches share equal power because they can keep each other from gaining too much power

• Federalism

• Checks & Balances

• Virginia Plan

• Great Compromise