Chapter 3 Review: The United States Constitution

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, institutions, compromises, and constitutional principles from Chapter 3 Review Sheet.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which established a weak central government that ultimately failed to govern effectively.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 meeting of state delegates in Philadelphia originally called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which resulted in drafting the U.S. Constitution.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional proposal that advocated for a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population, favoring larger states.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state regardless of size, favoring smaller states.

Great Compromise

The agreement establishing a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House of Representatives.

Three-fifths Compromise

The agreement between Northern and Southern states to count three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and direct taxation.

Electoral College

The constitutional body established to formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

Federalists

Supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution who favored a strong national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution who feared excessive central government power and demanded a Bill of Rights.

Legislative

The branch of government responsible for drafting and enacting laws, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Executive

The branch of government headed by the President that is responsible for enforcing and administering laws.

Judicial

The branch of government comprising the court system that interprets laws and decides legal disputes.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities among distinct branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent any one branch from acquiring excessive power.

Checks and Balances

A system enabling each branch of government to oversee, limit, or veto acts of the other branches so that no branch abuses its power.

Preamble

The introductory statement of the Constitution outlining the core purposes, principles, and goals of the United States government.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority and legitimacy of the government are created and sustained by the consent of the governed people.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central national government and individual state governments.

Enumerated Powers

Specific governmental powers directly listed and granted to the federal government in the text of the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but reasonably deduced as necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

Reserved Powers

Powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution, which are retained by the states or the people.

Concurrent Powers

Powers exercised independently and simultaneously by both the federal government and state governments, such as taxation.

Limited Government

The principle that government power is constrained by law and the Constitution to safeguard individual liberties.

Individual Rights

The basic freedoms and liberties guaranteed to citizens that the government is prohibited from violating.

Rule of Law

The legal principle that all individuals, entities, and leaders are accountable to established laws that are publicly enforced and applied equally.

Amending the Constitution

The formal procedure specified in Article V for altering or adding provisions to the U.S. Constitution.

Interpreting the Constitution

The process by which courts, particularly the Supreme Court through judicial review, discern the meaning and application of constitutional text.

Necessary and Proper Clause

The constitutional clause in Article I, Section 8 authorizing Congress to pass all laws required to execute its enumerated powers (also known as the Elastic Clause).