Constitution Vocabulary Flashcards
Amendment
An official change made to the Constitution after initial ratification.
Anti-federalist
Someone who opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
Checks and Balances
It is a way for the government to give each branch power over the other two. The idea is to keep one branch from becoming more powerful than the others and controlling the government.
Constitution
A body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
Constitutional Convention
A formal meeting held in 1787 for the purpose of creating a constitution for the United States.
Executive branch
Carries out and Enforces laws.
Expressed Powers
This includes the power to coin money, to regulate commerce, to declare war, to raise and maintain armed forces, and to establish a Post Office.
Federalism
A system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government.
Federalist
A supporter of federal government.
Great Compromise
A solution where both large and small states would be fairly represented by creating two houses of Congress.
Implied Powers
Implied powers are political powers granted to the United States government that aren’t explicitly stated in the Constitution.
Judicial branch
The courts review laws.
Legislative branch
The legislative branch makes all laws. (Made up of House and Senate A.k.a Congress)
Necessary and Proper Clause
Authorizes Congress to employ any means that are appropriate and plainly adapted to the permitted end.
New Jersey Plan
Designed to protect the security and power of the small states by limiting each state to one vote in Congress, as under the Articles of Confederation.
Popular Sovereignty
Government based on consent of the people.
Preamble
An introduction to a speech or piece of writing that often tells why the document was written.
Reserved Powers
Powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment gives these powers to the states.
Separation of Powers
The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.
Virginia Plan
Outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
