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Chapter Three
Civics and Economics: Chapter Three Vocabulary
| 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 | to vote approval of |
| Constitutional Convention | meeting of state delegates in 1787 leading to the adoption of new Constitution |
| Great Compromise | agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation |
| Three-Fifths Compromise | agreement providing that enslaves 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 states |
| Anti-Federalists | those who opposed ratification of the constitution |
| Preamble | the opening section of the constitution |
| Legislative Branch | the lawmaking branch of the government |
| Executive Branch | the branch of the government that carries out laws |
| Judicial Branch | the branch of the 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 brances |
| Check 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 state |
| Concurrent Powers | powers shared by the state and federal governments |