| A | B |
|---|
| chronological | putting events in order by time (first to last) |
| Continental Congresses | two government sessions during Colonial times that discussed responses to the English and Independence |
| founding fathers | the men who helped create the United States government |
| consent of the governed | people agree to follow and obey the laws that they themselves create |
| Northern States | Upper half of 13 states that had a industry-based economy that didn't need slavery |
| Southern States | Lower half of 13 states that had an agriculture-based economy that needed slavery |
| federal government | the name given to the government that creates laws for the entire country |
| civic virtue | putting the needs of your community above your own personal needs |
| majority rule with minority rights | the decisions of more than half will be accepted by all, the rights of everyone must be protected |
| rule of law | idea introduced in the Magna Carta; everyone, including leaders, are equal under the law |
| limited government | a type of government that has restrictions placed on its power |
| popular sovereignty | the people rule their government through voting |
| supremacy clause | clause found in the Constitution that says the Constitution is the supreme law of the land |
| nullification | the process of making something have no value |
| federalism | dividing the power of government into state governments (reserved powers) and a federal government (delegated powers) |
| checks and balances | each branch has different ways to limit the power of the other branches |
| three branches of government | legislative (Article I), executive (Article II), and judicial (Article III) |
| separation of powers | idea introduced by Montesquieu; the power of government should be separated into three branches |
| elastic clause | clause in the Constitution that allows Congress to expand the delegated powers to make laws "necessary and proper" |
| bicameral | consisting of two houses |
| electoral college | 538 electors who officially elect the president and vice president of the U.S. |
| presidential election | the process or steps by which a candidate must go through in order to become president of the U.S. |
| president | leader of the executive branch; elected to 4 year terms; serves as commander in chief of the armed forces |
| presidential impeachment and trial | the process of formally accusing the president of a crime in the House of Reps and removing the president from office by the Senate |
| Supreme Court | leader of the judicial branch; 9 justices preside over the court; has both appellate and original jurisdiction |
| trial by jury | 6th amendment right that allows a persons guilt/innocence to be decided by an unbiased group of people |
| due process | set of procedures that law enforcement officials and courts must follow to ensure equal justice under the law for all |
| establishment clause | clause in the 1st amendment that says government cannot create a national religion or favor one religion over another |
| free exercise clause | clause in the 1st amendment that allows people to practice(worship) their religion as long as they don't break any laws |
| abolition | the process to doing away with something or getting rid of something |
| propaganda | ideas that are used to influence a person's way of thinking |
| political party | group of people who work to get their candidates elected to different government positions |
