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Chapter 3
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Constitution | a detailed,written plan for government |
bicameral | a legislative 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 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 states |
Anti-Federalists | those who opposed ratification of the constitution |
Preamble | the opening section of the Constitution |
legislative branch | the lawmaking branch of government |
executive branch | the branch of government that carriers 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 balances | 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 in the states |
concurrent powers | powers shared by the state and federal courts to hear and decide cases |