A New Nation Vocab Flashcards
bicameral
having two separate law-making chambers
republic
a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives
ordinance
a law or regulation
clause
a special condition in a formal document
manumission
the freeing of individual enslaved persons
convention
meeting
amend
to change or revise
compromise
a settlement of a dispute by each side giving up some demands
Federalism
a form of government in which power is divided between the federal or national government and state governments
legislative branch
the law-making branch of government
executive branch
the branch of government that executes or carries out, the law and that is headed by the president
Electoral College
a special group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president
judicial branch
the branch of government that interprets the law; it includes courts that settle disputes and questions of the law
checks and balances
a system by which each branch of government limits the powers of other branches so that one branch does not become to powerful
Federalists
people who supported the new Constitution
Anti-Federalists
people who opposed the Constitution
amendment
a change, correction, or improvement added to a document
separation of powers
the division of authority among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to make sure no one branch has too much power
popular sovereignty
the belief that government is subject to the powers given to it by the people
limited government
idea that a government may only use the powers given to it by the people
implied powers
authority not specifically mentioned in the Constitution but suggested in its language
naturalization
the process of becoming a citizen of another country
