| A | B |
|---|
| Articles of Confederation | first constitution that was innefective because of a weak national government |
| Separation of Powers | division of power between the three different branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial |
| Legislative branch | makes the laws |
| Executive branch | carries out the laws |
| Judicial branch | determines whether laws are constitutional |
| The "Virginia Plan" | James Madison's ideas for the new government that included dividing the government into three branches |
| Congress | the head of the legislative branch which includes the Senate and House of Representatives |
| President | the head of the executive branch |
| Supreme Court | the head of the judicial branch |
| Federal System | a system that divides governmental power between state and national governments |
| Checks and Balances | each branch of government can check the power of the others to keep one branch from becoming too powerful |
| Bill of Rights | the first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual rights |
| James Madison | the author of the Bill of Rights |
| Coin money, declare war, regulate trade between states | powers of the national government |
| maintain schools, make laws about marriage, regulate trade within a state | powers of state governments |
| Amendment 1 | amendment that guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition |
