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chapter 3
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| constitution | a detailed, written plan for government |
| bicameral | where something is ruled by two or more people |
| confederation | a group of individuals or state governments |
| ratify | to vote approval of |
| constitutional convention | meeting of state delegates in 1787 leading to adoption of new |
| great compermise | agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation |
| Three-fifths compromise | agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as three fifths of other persons in determining representation in congress |
| electoral college | a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president |
| federalism | a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and states |
| Anti-federalists | those who opposed ratification the constitution |
| preamble | the opening section of the constitution |
| legislative branch | the lawmaking branch of government |
| executive branch | the branch of government that carries out laws |
| judicial branch | the branch of government that interprets laws |
| amendment | any change in the consitution |
| popular sovereignty | a nation where the power lies with the people |
| rule of law | principal of law that applies to everyone even those who govern |
| separation of powers | the split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
| checks and balances | a system in which each branch in government can check, or restrain the power of the other branches |
| reserved powers | powers that the constitution dose not give the national government but are kept by the states |
| concurrent powers | powers shared by the state and federal governments |
| expressed powers | the powers congress have specifically given by the constitution |
| federalists | supporters of the constitution |