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Ch. 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 government |
| ratify | to vote approval of |
| constitution convention | meeting of state delagates 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 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-federalist | those who opposed ratification of the Constitution |
| preamble | the opening section of the constitution |
| legislative branch | law making branch of government |
| executive branch | the branch of government that carries out laws |
| judicial branch | the branch of government that interprets the 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 of in in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the powers of others |
| expressed powers | power 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 |