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Constitution Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Constitution | Document that sets out the laws and principles of government |
| Confederation | An alliance of independent states |
| Articles of Confederation | The first government used in the United States from 1781-1787 |
| Constitutional Convention | Meetings in Philadelphia where state leaders met to revise the Articles of Confederation in May of 1787 in the Independence Hall |
| Republic | A government in which citizens rule themselves through elected officials |
| Compromise | A settlement in which each side gives up some of it's demands to reach an agreement |
| Federalism | Division of governmental powers amongst the state government and the national government |
| Economic Depression | A period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall and unemployment rises |
| Separation of Powers | A principle of government in which powers are divided among individual and separate branches |
| Executive Branch | This group makes sure that all the laws are carried out and put in to effect and includes the President and Vice President |
| Legislative Branch | This group makes the laws and includes the Senate and House of Representatives |
| Judicial Branch | This group makes sure that all laws are fair and includes the Supreme Court |
| Checks and Balance | System where each branch of government can check or control the actions of other branches |
| Census | A periodic governmental count of population; helps determine the number of representatives from each state in the House of Representatives |
| Electoral College | Group of electors from every state who meet every four years to vote for the President and Vice President |
| Execute | To carry out the laws |
| Bill | A proposed law |
| Veto | To reject |
| Due Process | Idea that government must follow the same rules in all cases brought to trial |
| Impeach | To bring formal charges of wrongdoing against a government official (the President) |
| Amend | To change |
| Bill of Rights | List of freedoms that a government promises to protect; the first 10 amendments to the Constitution |
| First Amendment | Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition |