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civics chapter 3
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Constitution | A detailed, written plan for government |
| Bicameral | Divided in two parts |
| 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 the 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 |
| Judicial branch | the branch of government that interprets the laws |
| Amendment | any changes 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 the 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 |
| Executive branch | the branch of government that carries out laws |