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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 governments |
| Ratify | A 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 | Supporter of the Constitution |
| Federalism | A form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states. |
| Anti-Federalism | Those who opposed ratification of the Constitution |
| Preamble | The opening section of the Constitution |
| Legistlative Branch | The lawmaking branch of government |
| Executive Branch | The branch of government that carries out laws |
| Judicical 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 Balances | A system in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the power of 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 states |
| Concurrent Powers | Powers shared by the state and federal governments |