| A | B |
|---|
| Articles of Confederation | The first American constitution. The federal government was too weak to be effective. |
| Constitutional Convention | Meeting of the delegates from 12 states who wrote a Constitution for the U.S. in 1787 |
| representative government | System of government in which voters elect representatives to make laws for them |
| constitution | A document that sets out the laws and principles of a government |
| bill of rights | A list of freedoms that the government promises to protect |
| United States Constitution | "Supreme Law of the Land" in the U.S.; outlines the structure of our government |
| delegates | Representatives |
| Three-Fifths Compromise | Agreement of delegates to the Constitutional Convention that three fifths of the slaves in any state be counted in its population |
| federal government | National government |
| Preamble of the United States Constitution | Opening statement of the Constitution |
| ratification | process of approving a law or amendment |
| Federalist Papers | A series of essays defending the Constitution |
| Federalists | Supporters of the Constitution |
| Antifederalists | People who opposed the Constitution |
| federalism | The division of powers between the states and the national government |
| states' rights | Idea that individual states have the power to limit the power of the national government |
| checks and balances | System set up by the Constitution in which each branch of the federal government has the power to check the other two branches |
| veto | To reject a law |
| override | To overrule |
| amendment | Formal written change to the Constitution |
| Great Compromise | Roger Sherman's plan for a 2-house legislature. Settled the differences between large and small states over representation. |
| Congress | The lawmaking body of the government in the U.S. |
| House of Representatives | The lower house of Congress; seats in this house are awarded based on a state's population |
| Senate | The upper house of Congress; each state has 2 members in this house. |
| Supreme Court | Highest court in the United States |
| Marbury v. Madison (1803) | Supreme Court case (1803) that set the precedent for Judicial Review |
| judicial review | Power of the Supreme Court to decide whether acts passed by the president or laws passed by Congress are unconstitutional |
| separation of powers | System in which the power of government is divided among separate branches |
| electoral college | System of government in which voters elect representatives to make laws for them |
| habeas corpus | Right to have charges filed or a hearing before being jailed |
| cabinet | Group of officials who head government departments and advise the president |
| Legislative Branch | branch of the government that makes the laws |
| Executive Branch | branch of the government that carries out the laws |
| Judicial Branch | branch of the government that interprets laws |
| due process | Principle in the Constitution that provides a person accused of a crime with procedures guaranteeing a fair trail. |
| elastic clause | section of the Constitution enabling the government to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its specific powers. |
| Unconstitutional | actions declared illegal due to their violation of the principles of the Constitution |
