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chapter 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 |
| 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 the other persons in determining representation in congress |
| electoral college | a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and the vice president |
| federalists | supporters of the constitution |
| federalism | a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, governments and the states |
| anti-federalists | those who opposed the 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 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 that are kept by the states |
| concurrent powers | powers shared by the state and federal governments |