| A | B |
|---|
| Declaration of Independence | Document written by Jefferson, gives reasons for breaking with British & lists our rights |
| Articles of Confederation | First plan of government for the new U.S., was weak & replaced |
| Constitution | Second plan of government, created federal system & strong national govt. |
| Federal system | Where power is divided between national & state governments |
| Bill of Rights | 1st 10 Amendments, outlines are basic rights & freedoms |
| Checks & Balances | System where each branch of govt. is equal & is able to control the other branches |
| Executive Branch | Carries out the laws |
| Legislative Branch | Writes the laws |
| Judicial Branch | Interprets the meaning of the laws & Constitution |
| James Madison | "Father of the Constitution", 4th President, author of some Federalist Papers |
| Ratify/Ratification | To accept, approve/process of approving |
| Federalists | Those who supported the passage of the Constitution and a loose interpretation |
| Anti-Federalists | Those who didn't support the Constitution without a Bill of Rights |
| Amendment | Any addition or change to the Constitution |
| Republic | Government where people are represented by others whom they have elected. |
| Electoral College | Body of electors who actually elect the President, part of Presidential Compromise |
| Democracy | Where the power of the government comes from the people |
| Monarchy | Where a king &/or queen rules a country |
| Independence | Gaining your political freedom from another country |
| States | Independent territories, Nebraska is considered one of these |
| Revolution | A time of political, cultural & social change |
| Representation | Where other people are elected to serve in the name of the people |
| Separation of Powers | Where the powers of government are broken down into 3 parts |
| Articles | A piece of paper, or section of a document |
| Bill | An idea for a law that is debated in Congress |
| Impeach | To remove a President or another elected official from office |
| House of Representatives | Part of Congress that has 435 members, you must be 25 to be in it |
| Senate | Part of Congress that has 100 members, you must be 30 to be in it |
| Congress | Legislative body of the United States, consists of the Senate & House of Representatives |
| Veto | Power of the President to reject a law |
| Cabinet | The men & women who advise the President & head the executive departments |
| President | The leader of the executive branch |
| Supreme Court | Highest court in the country, it determines what the Constitution means |
| Justices | The nine judges of the Supreme Court |
| Unconstitutional | Not following the constitution |
| Assemble | The right to gather peaceably |
| Freedoms | A person's liberties (religion, speech, press, assembly) |
| Rights | The moral & legal privileges of being a citizen of a country |
| Petition | Written request for a government to change, it is a right |
| Infringe | To violate, to withold |
| Seizures | Act of taking someone's belongings |
| Discrimination | The unjust treatment of a people based upon personal characteristics |
| Prejudices | Pre-conceived opinions of a group of people not based on facts or experiences |
| Civil Rights | The rights of citizens to political & social freedoms & equality |
| Citizen | A legally recognized person of a city, state, or country |
| Alien | Someone who is not a citizen of a country |
| Immigrant | Someone who moves into a country & plans on living there |
| Naturalization | The legal process of becoming a citizen of another country |
| Voter Registration | The act of signing up to vote |
| Primary Election | The first election meant to elect the candidates for a political party |
| General Election | The regular election, held in November, when the President is elected |
| Campaign | To actively go out and try to convince people to vote for you or another candidate |
| Candidate | Someone running for a political office |
| Political Party | A group of people who share the same political beliefs that try to get their members elected |
| Override | When Congress votes to go over a President's Veto |
| Judicial Review | When the Supreme Court reviews the law to see if it is constitutional |
| Liberty | Your freedoms |
| Articles of Confederation | 1st government formed by the 13 states, was weak & replaced |
| Declaration of Independence | Document stating the reasons for breaking away from the British |
| Sugar & Stamp Acts | 1st taxes passed by British to pay for French & Indian Wars |
| French & Indian War | When the colonies & the British fought to expand to the west |
| Boston Tea Party | Protest over the tax on tea |
| Boston Massacre | When 5 people were killed by British soldiers |
| Quartering Act | Allowed British soldiers to stay in the homes of the colonists |
| Lexington & Concord | 1st battles of the Revolutionary war |
| Continental Congress | When representatives of the 13 colonies met to decide what to do with the British |
| Virginia Plan | Favored by large states, wanted representation based on population |
| New Jersey Plan | Favored by small states, wanted representation to be equal |
| Great Compromise | Took parts of the Virginia & New Jersey Plans & put them together |
| 3/5 Compromise | When taxing & counting slaves for representation, 5 slaves equals 3 whites |
| Preamble | The beginning of the Constitution, states its goals |
