Unit 5: Constitution Flashcards
articles
the main body of the Constitution, divided into 7 sections, which establishes the framework for the US government
ratification
approving a treaty, contract, or agreement and making it official
compromise
an agreement reached by changing the opposing claims
constitution
Document that sets out the laws, principles, organization, and processes of a government
Preamble
introduction to a declaration, constitution, or other official document; usually states the purpose
domestic tranquility
Peace and order at home; one of the six goals defined in the Preamble of the US Constitution
popular sovereignty
term that means people have the right to create, alter, or abolish their government
limited government
A principle of the US Constitution that states that government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it
checks and balances
A principle of the US Constitution that protects against abuse of power by giving each branch of government the power to check the other branches
federalism
Establishes the division of power between the federal government and the states
House of Representatives
The larger of the two bodies that make up the legislative branch; representation based on population
Senate
Smaller of the two bodies that make up the legislative branch; based on equal representation, with two senators for each state
bill
proposed law
electoral college
Group of electors from each state who meet every four years to vote for the President and Vice President of the United States
Supreme Court
the highest court in the US
unconstitutional
not allowed in the constitution
veto
to reject, as when a President rejects a law passed by Congress
override
To overrule, as when Congress overrules a presidential veto
impeach
to bring charges of serious wrongdoing against a public official
First Amendment
Protects basic individual liberties including freedom of religion, speech, and the press
Second Amendment
right to bear arms
Thirteenth Amendment
bans slavery throughout the US
Fourteenth Amendment
Gives citizenship to all persons born in the US and guarantees equal protection of the laws
Fifteenth Amendment
Forbids any state to deny African Americans the right to vote because of the race
Nineteenth Amendment
guarantees women’s right to vote
Twenty-sixth Amendment
lowers the minimum voting age from 21 to 18
Articles of Confederation
First American constitution, passed in 1777, which created a loose alliance of 13 independent states
Shay’s Rebellion
Revolt in Massachusetts led by farmers in reaction to high taxes
legislative branch
branch of government that passes laws
executive branch
branch of government that carries out the laws
judicial branch
branch of government that interprets the laws
The Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house
New Jersey Plan
Plan that was favored by the smaller states that called for three branches of government with a single-chamber legislature
Three-fifths Compromise
Agreement at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slaves in any state be counted in its population
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution, who favored a strong federal, or national, government
Anti-Federalists
People who opposed the Constitution and a strong national government
The Federalist Papers
Series of essays by Federalists James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of ratifying the Constitution
amend
to change
Bill of Rights
first 10 amendments to the US Constitution
