United States Constitution AP US History

Flashcards covering the United States Constitution and related topics, suitable for AP US History exam preparation.

Articles of Confederation

The first government of the United States, created during the Revolutionary War, but proved too weak to deal with the nation's growing problems.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

A meeting in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, attended by rich, white, Christian men, including merchants, lawyers, and large landowners.

James Madison

Considered the "Father of the Constitution" due to his detailed notes, attendance, authorship of the Bill of Rights, and the Virginia Plan.

Preamble

The introduction to the Constitution that lists the purposes and goals for the new government.

Articles (of the Constitution)

7 sections of the Constitution describing the powers of the 3 branches, relations between the states, how the Constitution can be changed, the supremacy of the national government and how it would be approved.

Amendments (to the Constitution)

27 changes and additions that have been made to the Constitution over the course of its history.

Democracy

A system of majority rule with legal protection for minority rights.

Republic

A system where the people elect representatives to rule on their behalf.

Separation of Powers

Divides power between the 3 branches of the federal government.

Checks and Balances

A system designed to keep any one branch of government from becoming more powerful than the others.

Federalism

Divides power between the state and the national governments.

Legislative Branch

Described in Article I of the Constitution, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate; main job is to make laws.

Congress

The legislative branch of the U.S. government, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Great Compromise

An agreement made at the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature with representation in the House based on population and equal representation in the Senate.

House of Representatives

One of the two chambers of Congress, with 435 members determined by a state's population; initiates tax laws and spending bills, and has the power of impeachment.

Senate

One of the two chambers of Congress, with 100 members, two from each state; tries impeachment officials, approves treaties and presidential appointments.

Impeachment

The process of formally accusing a member of the federal government with wrongdoing.

Bill

A proposal for a law that can originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Veto

The President's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Electoral College

A system created during the Constitutional Convention to elect the president, where each state is given a number of electoral votes equal to its representatives plus senators.

President

The head of the Executive Branch, responsible for enforcing laws; serves a 4-year term and can be elected no more than twice.

Commander in Chief

The President's role as the leader of the military, giving them emergency war-making powers.

Treaties

Agreements that the President can negotiate with foreign nations, but need the approval of the Senate to be ratified.

Cabinet

A group of 15 department heads who advise the President.

Vice President

The person who assumes the office of President if the President dies, resigns, is removed from office, or is incapacitated.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws, with the U.S. Supreme Court as the highest court.

Chief Justice

The leader of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of federal laws and presidential actions.

Federalism

Divides power between the federal and state governments.

Delegated Powers

Powers of the National Government, that, for example, coin money, regulate interstate trade, establish citizenship laws, and declare war.

Reserved Powers

Powers of the State Governments; examples oversee elections, regulate schools, establish local governments, and establish driving laws.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by the National and State Governments, such as collecting taxes, and regulating trade within the state.

Eminent Domain

The government's power to take private property for public use with fair payment.

Amendment

A revision or change to the Constitution, proposed by a 2/3 vote of Congress and ratified by a 3/4 vote of the states.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments added to the Constitution in 1791, designed to protect Americans from corrupt government.

Due Process

A standard set of procedures that authorities must follow; people cannot be forced to give evidence against themselves or be tried twice for the same crime if found not guilty.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Flag Code

A set of recommended guidelines for the proper treatment of the U.S. flag.

General Assembly

The legislative branch in Illinois, made up of a House of Representatives and Senate.

Governor

The leader of the executive branch in Illinois, serves a 4-year term and may be elected an unlimited number of times.

Line-item Veto

The power of the Illinois Governor to strike down only selected parts of a bill.

Secretary of State

A member of the Illinois executive branch who maintains official state records and issues drivers’ licenses.