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Amendment

Amendment

A formal change or addition to a legal document, such as the Constitution.

Citizen

A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Laws

Rules established by a governing authority to maintain order and protect the rights of citizens.

Rights

Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement.

Society

A community of individuals living together and sharing customs, laws, and organizations.

Government

The governing body of a nation, state, or community responsible for making and enforcing laws.

Politics

The activities associated with governance, including the debate and decision-making processes.

Legislative

Pertaining to the branch of government responsible for making laws.

Executive

The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.

Judicial

The branch of government that interprets laws and administers justice.

Ideologies

A set of beliefs or philosophies that guide political, economic, or social systems.

Beliefs

Convictions or acceptances that certain things are true or real.

Liberties

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority.

Anti-Federalist

A political faction that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and the ratification of the Constitution.

Bicameral

A legislative body that has two separate chambers or houses.

Checks and balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with the means to limit the powers of the others.

Elite democracy

A model of democracy in which a small number of people, often from the elite class, hold significant power and influence.

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Extradition

The process of delivering a person accused of a crime from one jurisdiction to another.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Judicial review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution.

National supremacy

The principle that federal law takes precedence over state laws.

Natural law

A philosophy asserting that certain rights are inherent by virtue of human nature and can be understood through reason.

Necessary and proper clause

A provision in the Constitution that grants Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.

Participatory democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems.

Pluralist democracy

A model of democracy that recognizes and affirms diversity within a political body, allowing for multiple groups to coexist and influence policy.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Representative republic

A form of government in which representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the citizens.

Republicanism

An ideology centered on the belief in a government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions.

Reserved powers

Powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution and are therefore reserved for the states.

Separation of powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Social contract

An implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, such as protection and social order.

Supremacy clause

A clause in the Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state law.