The U.S. Constitution
1. Alexander Hamilton - ANS-A leading delegate at the Constitutional Convention and
leading member of the Federalists during the debate over ratification.
2. Amendments - ANS-Changes to the U.S. Constitution. There have been 27 made to
the Constitution since its creation in 1787.
3. Anti-Federalists - ANS-The group during the debate over ratification that did not
support the U.S. Constitution. They thought the national government it created was
too powerful.
4. Articles - ANS-The main body of the Constitution. There are seven in total and they
outline the framework (basic rules and structure) for the national government.
5. Articles of Confederation - ANS-America's first national constitution that was in effect
from 1781 - 1787. It created a very weak central (or national) government that was
incapable of effectively dealing with the problems facing the country.
6. Bill of Rights - ANS-The first ten amendments to the Constitution; guarantees certain
individual rights, like freedom of speech and religion.
7. Checks and Balances - ANS-The principle that the branch of government
(Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) should have some power each other.
8. Constitutional Convention - ANS-A meeting that took place between May and
September of 1787 in Philadelphia with the original goal of fixing the Articles of
Confederation.
9. Delegate - ANS-An individual sent to represent a state at the Constitutional
Convention. Twelve of the 13 states sent representatives to the Convention. In total,
55 were sent to Constitutional Convention in 1787.
10. Executive Branch - ANS-The branch of government responsible for enforcing laws. It
is headed by the President of the United States and made up of several departments
(the Department of Defense, Department of Justice) and agencies (the FBI, the CIA)
and the U.S. Military.
11. Federalism - ANS-A key principle of the Constitution that divides power between the
national (federal) government and the state governments. As an American citizen,
you must obey federal law and the laws of the state in which you live.
12. Federalists - ANS-The group during the debate over ratification that support the U.S.
Constitution. Typically, they were supporters of a strong central government.
13. George Washington - ANS-The commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during
the American Revolution; the president of the Constitutional Convention; and the first
president of the United States of America under the U.S. Constitution. Often referred
to as the "Father of His Country."
14. Great Compromise - ANS-An agreement struck between the large and small states
over the issue of representation. Combining aspects of the Virginia and New Jersey
plans, it proposed a two-house legislature. In the lower house, representation would
be based on population; in the upper house, representation would be equal.
15. House of Representatives - ANS-Considered the lower house of Congress (the
legislative branch of the national government). Together with the Senate, it introduces
1. Alexander Hamilton - ANS-A leading delegate at the Constitutional Convention and
leading member of the Federalists during the debate over ratification.
2. Amendments - ANS-Changes to the U.S. Constitution. There have been 27 made to
the Constitution since its creation in 1787.
3. Anti-Federalists - ANS-The group during the debate over ratification that did not
support the U.S. Constitution. They thought the national government it created was
too powerful.
4. Articles - ANS-The main body of the Constitution. There are seven in total and they
outline the framework (basic rules and structure) for the national government.
5. Articles of Confederation - ANS-America's first national constitution that was in effect
from 1781 - 1787. It created a very weak central (or national) government that was
incapable of effectively dealing with the problems facing the country.
6. Bill of Rights - ANS-The first ten amendments to the Constitution; guarantees certain
individual rights, like freedom of speech and religion.
7. Checks and Balances - ANS-The principle that the branch of government
(Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) should have some power each other.
8. Constitutional Convention - ANS-A meeting that took place between May and
September of 1787 in Philadelphia with the original goal of fixing the Articles of
Confederation.
9. Delegate - ANS-An individual sent to represent a state at the Constitutional
Convention. Twelve of the 13 states sent representatives to the Convention. In total,
55 were sent to Constitutional Convention in 1787.
10. Executive Branch - ANS-The branch of government responsible for enforcing laws. It
is headed by the President of the United States and made up of several departments
(the Department of Defense, Department of Justice) and agencies (the FBI, the CIA)
and the U.S. Military.
11. Federalism - ANS-A key principle of the Constitution that divides power between the
national (federal) government and the state governments. As an American citizen,
you must obey federal law and the laws of the state in which you live.
12. Federalists - ANS-The group during the debate over ratification that support the U.S.
Constitution. Typically, they were supporters of a strong central government.
13. George Washington - ANS-The commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during
the American Revolution; the president of the Constitutional Convention; and the first
president of the United States of America under the U.S. Constitution. Often referred
to as the "Father of His Country."
14. Great Compromise - ANS-An agreement struck between the large and small states
over the issue of representation. Combining aspects of the Virginia and New Jersey
plans, it proposed a two-house legislature. In the lower house, representation would
be based on population; in the upper house, representation would be equal.
15. House of Representatives - ANS-Considered the lower house of Congress (the
legislative branch of the national government). Together with the Senate, it introduces
