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Chapter 3
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Constitution | a detailed, written plan for governement |
Bicameral | a legislature consisting of two parts, or housese |
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 Consitiution |
Great Compromise | agreement providing a dual system of congressional reprensentation |
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 Consititution |
Feederalism | a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and state governements |
Anti-Federalists | those who opposed ratification of the Constitution |
Preamble | the opening section of the Consititution |
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 Consitituion |
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 legislature, executive, and judicial branches |
Checks and Balances | a system in which each branch of governement is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others |
Expressed Powers | powers that Congress has that are specifically listed in the Consitituion |
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 |