Unit 1 - Lesson 3: Framing the Constitution Flashcards
amendments
changes to the U.S. Constitution
bicameral
having two houses, or parts, as in a legislature
Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments to the Constitution; defines the basic rights of all people living in the United States
checks and balances
a system that allows each branch of government to check, or control the other two brances
compromise
an agreement in which both sides give up a little and receive a little
concurrent powers
powers shared by the national and state governments
democracy
a form of government that is run by the people it serves
Elastic Clause
another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause
Executive branch
the part of the government responsible for enforcing, or carrying out, laws
expressed powers
powers that the Constitution specifically gives to the federal government
federalism
the division of power between the national, or federal, government and state governments
guarantee
an official promise
House of Representatives
one of the houses of Congress; membership depends on the population of each state
implied powers
powers that are given to the federal government, but are not directly stated in the Constitution
judicial branch
the part of the government responsible for interpreting laws
legislative branch
the part of the government responsible for making laws
legislature
the law-making branch of the state or federal government
Necessary and Proper Clause
a section of the Constitution that gives the national government the power to make all laws necessary to carry out expressed powers
originate
to start in; to come from
Philosophy
a way of thinking
prohibited
forbade; outlawed
reserved powers
powers that are reserved, for a special purpose
self-government
government controlled by the people it serves
separation of powers
the division of the U.S. government into three branches
Senate
one of the houses of Congress; each state is represented by two senators
senators
members of the Senate
taxation
a government’s system for raising money by charging certain fees to its citizens
Three-Fifths Compromise
a compromise passed at the Constitutional Convention, stating that each slave would count as three-fifths of a person
