The Constitution Definitions

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

Compact made between original 13 states that formed the basis of government before the US Constitution was introduced

Question 2

Confederacy

Answer 2

League of member states with a very weak central government

Question 3

Articles of the Constitution

Answer 3

Six sections of the original constitution that laid out the powers of government, states, courts and the constitution itself

Question 4

The Bill of Rights

Answer 4

First 10 amendments of the constitution (all written in 1789) that laid out basic rights of US citizens

Question 5

Constitutional Rights

Answer 5

Fundamental rights guaranteed in Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments

Question 6

Congress

Answer 6

Legislative body of the US, made up of House of Representatives and Senate

Question 7

Separation of Powers

Answer 7

Political power is distributed among different bodies, which act both interdependently and independently

Question 8

Limited Government

Answer 8

Size and scope of federal government should be limited to that which is necessary only for the common good of the people

Question 9

Checks and Balances

Answer 9

A system of government in which each branch exercises control over the actions of the other branches of government

Question 10

State of the Union Address

Answer 10

Annual speech made by President to set out his/her legislative agenda. Not legally binding for congress

Question 11

Executive

Answer 11

Branch of government that includes President and cabinet

Question 12

Impeachment

Answer 12

Formal accusation of a federal official by a vote in the House. Followed by a trial in the Senate

Question 13

Supreme Court

Answer 13

Judicial branch of the government responsible for ensuring new laws do not contradict the Constitution and reviewing cases related to the Constitution

Question 14

Bipartisanship

Answer 14

Close co-operation between Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation

Question 15

Divided Government

Answer 15

One party controls the Executive branch whilst the other has Congressional majorities

Question 16

Gridlock

Answer 16

When no legislation can be passed due to a divided government ie. Republican congress unwilling to co-operate with Democrat President

Question 17

Federalism

Answer 17

A theory of government by which political power is divided between a national government and state governments

Question 18

Decentralisation

Answer 18

Power not only vested in federal government, but state governments also

Question 19

Dual Federalism

Answer 19

Clear line between the jurisdiction of the federal government and the powers of the state government

Question 20

Co-operative Federalism

Answer 20

Federal and state governments work together to solve problems, with roughly equal influence

Question 21

New Federalism

Answer 21

Return of certain powers to states in 1970s/1980s as a result of a growing federal government