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Ch.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 | To vote approval of. |
Constitution 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 the enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of other persons 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 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 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 by the states. |
Concurrent Powers | Powers shared by the state and federal governments. |