Anarchy
a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
Bicameralism
a legislature in which the legislators are divided into two separate houses.
Consent of the governed
the idea that the authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people as expressed by votes in elections.
Common law
the part of English law derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than statutes.
Conservative
holding to traditional attitudes and values and being cautious toward change.
Decentralization
moving political power away from a central government and toward local or regional governments.
Democrat
an advocate or supporter of democracy.
Democratization
the process of making a political system more democratic.
Elitist
a person who believes that a system or society should be ruled or dominated by elites.
Freedom of conscience
the right to follow one's own beliefs in matters of religion and morality.
Gendered
biased toward one sex.
Nationalism
the strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of high importance.
National rights
rights that are not dependent on laws, customs, or beliefs of any particular culture or government, and which are universal and inalienable
Property qualifications
a qualification for elected office or for t\the right to vote, based on the ownership of property.
Referendum
a general vote by the electorate on a single political question referred to them for a direct decision.
Republicanism
an ideology of being a citizen in a state as a republic (rather than as a monarchy or dictatorship) under which citizens retain sovereignty.
Sovereignty
the authority of a state to govern itself or another state.
Specie
money in the form of coins rather than paper notes, especially gold and silver coins.
Statute law
written law established by legislatures or other representative bodies.
Statute of Religious Freedom
a statement about both freedom of conscience and the principle of separation of church and state.
Taxpayer suffrage
the idea that only taxpayers should be allowed to vote; this is typically interpreted in terms of property taxes.
Virginia Declaration of Rights
a document drafted in 1776 proclaiming the rights of citizens, including the right to reform or abolish a government.
Continental Army
the Revolutionary War Army of the United States authorized by the Continental Congress in 1775 and led by George Washington.
Coup d'etat
a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over a government, usually through the use or threat of violence.
Daniel Shays
leader of a popular revolt by poor farmers in Massachusetts 1786-87.
Foreclosure
the process of taking possession of a property due to the borrower's failure to keep up loan payments.
Land Ordinance of 1785
law passed by Congress allowing for sales of land in the Northwest Territory; the law also created standards for land sale that became precedents.
Mutiny
an open rebellion against authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against officers.
Newburgh Conspiracy
a plan by Continental Army officers to challenge the authority of the Confederation Congress.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
law designed to regulate settlement of the Northwest Territory, which eventually was divided into several states of the American Midwest.
Requisition
an official order demanding the use of property or materials.
Shays Rebellion
an uprising of impoverished farmers led by a former militia officer, Daniel Shays, which broke out in western Massachusetts in 1786.
Annapolis Convention of 1786
a meeting of 12 delegates from five states to discuss recommending changes to the Articles of Confederation to better regulate interstate trade and commerce.
Connecticut Compromise
agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have.
Constitutional Convention of 1787
the gathering that drafted the Constitution of the United States.
Enumerated powers
a list in the Constitution of the powers of Congress.
Full faith and credit clause
part of the Constitution that makes sure that the various states recognize legislative acts, public records, and judicial decisions of the other states.
House of Representatives
the lower House of the U.S. Congress.
New Jersey Plan
a plan, unsuccessfully proposed at the Constitutional Convention, calling for a single legislative house with equal representation for each state.
Proportional representation
an electoral system in which seats in a legislature are awarded to each party on the basis of its share of the popular vote.
Senate
the upper house of the U.S. Congress.
Supremacy Article
part of the Constitution declaring federal laws to have authority over state laws in the event there is conflict between laws established by two governing bodies.
Three-Fifths Compromise
outlined the process for states to count slaves as part of the population in order to determine representation and taxation for the federal government.
Virginia Plan
a plan, unsuccessfully proposed at the Constitutional Convention, calling for a legislature of two houses with proportional representation in each house and executive and judicial branches to be chosen by the legislature.
Antifederalist Papers
works written by Americans opposed to the Constitution of 1787.
Anti-federalists
people who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in 1789.
Checks and balances
a principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and must share power.
Extralegal
occurring beyond the authority of the law, or not regulated by the law.
Federalist Papers
a collection of articles and essays written to promote the ratification of the Constitution of 1787.
Faction
a smaller group of persons who oppose the actions or policies of a larger group.
Federalists
people who supported the ratification of the Constitution in 1789.
Impeachment
a formal accusation of wrongdoing against a public official.
Ratification
an official way to approve something, usually by vote.
Reserved powers
powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States.
Supremacy Article
part of the Constitution declaring federal laws to have authority over state laws in the event there is a conflict between laws established by two governing bodies.
Veto
the power of a president to reject legislation proposed by Congress by refusing to sign it into law.