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United States constitution Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Constitution | A document presenting a plan of government. |
Constitutional Convention | Meeting held in 1787 to consider changes to the Articles of Confederation and resulted in the drafting of the Constitution. |
Bill of Rights | The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, listing all the essential freedoms guaranteed to all citizens. |
Amendment | An alteration or written change to a document. |
Bicameral | Two houses of the legislative branch of government. |
Preamble | The first part, or introduction, of a document. |
Checks and balances | System set up in the Constitution where each branch of the government has some authority over the other. |
Federalism | System of government in which power is shared among the national and state government. |
Separation of powers | The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. |
Legislative branch | The branch of government that makes the laws. |
Executive branch | The branch of government that enforces and carries out laws. |
Judicial branch | The branch of government that interprets laws. |
Duties | Tasks citizens are required to do. |
Responsibilities | Tasks citizens should do. |