In this type of democracy, the will of the people is translated into public policy by the people themselves through mass meetings.

• Representative Democracy

• Direct Democracy

• Social Democracy

1. An alliance of independent states.

• Federalism

• Autocracy

• Confederation

The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures and processes of a government.

• Common Law

• Constitution

• Government

A body of people living in a defined territory, organized politically and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.

• State

• Borough

• Colony

Those in favor of ratification of the Constitution

• Carpetbaggers

• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

The first plan presented at the Constitutional Convention, it called for a new government with three separate branches: Legislative, Executive and Judicial.  The Legislature would be bi-cameral. Representation was to be based on the states population or the amount of money it gave for a central government.

• Connecticut Compromise

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

The small state plan for government presented at the Constitutional Convention, it kept the unicameral Congress of the Confederation with each state equally represented regardless of size.  To the powers the Congress already had, the plan added closely limited powers to tax and to regulate trade between the states. It also called for a federal executive of more than one person.

• Connecticut Compromise

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

Presented to the Constitutional Convention, it proposed that the Senate would be represented equally among the states no matter the size and the House of Representatives would be based on population.  This resolved the dispute among the small and larger states about fair representation

• Connecticut Compromise

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

The year the Constitution was written.

• 1787

• 1789

• 1865

The Introduction to the Constitution. 

• Articles

• Preamble

• Amendments