Notes

checks and balances: counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.

republic: a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives. This is what America is today.

federalist: one who believes in big national government interfering the citizens' every day lives (modern democrats)

anti-federalist: one who believes in small or no national government (modern republicans)

federalist papers: a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution. It questioned whether people really know what is good for them, or if they will always need a central government to make important decisions.

bill of rights: the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, which define the citizen's basic human rights. This was necessary in order for the anti-federalists to agree to the constitution.

equal rights amendment: The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for women. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman. It was first introduced in 1923.

Marbury v. Madison: United States Supreme Court case in which the Court formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States under Article III of the Constitution. The landmark decision helped define the boundary between the constitutionally separate executive and judicial branches of the American form of government.