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Chapter 3
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Constitution | a detailed written plan for government |
| Bicameral | a legislature consisting of two parts or houses |
| Confederation | a group of individuals or state government |
| Ratified | to vote approval of |
| Constitutional Convention | meeting of state delegates in 1787 leading to adoption of new constitution. |
| Great Compromise | 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 |
| Federalists | supporters of the constitution |
| Federalism | a form of government in which power is divided between the federal or national, government and the state |
| Anti-Federalists | those who opposed ratification of the constitution |
| Preamble | the opening section of the constitutio |
| 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 constitution |
| Popular Sovereignty | the notion that power lies with the people |
| Rule of law | principle that the law applies to everyone even those who govern |
| Separation of powers | the split of authority among the legislative, executive and judicial branches |
| Checks and balance | a system in which each branch of government is able to check or restrain, the power of the others |
| Expressed powers | powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution. |
| Reserved powers | powers that the constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the state |
| Concurrent powers | powers shared by the state and federal government |