Constitution Flashcards

Articles of Confederation

The governing document for the United States prior to the Constitution, characterized by a weak central government and strong state powers.

Preamble

The introductory statement to the Constitution that outlines its purposes and principles.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two houses, as established by the Constitution for Congress, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted to Congress outlined in Section 8 of Article One of the Constitution.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also known as the Elastic Clause, it allows Congress to make all laws deemed necessary and proper for executing its powers.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for executing laws, headed by the President.

Electoral College

The body that elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine whether laws are constitutional, established in later case law.

Supremacy Clause

The clause in Article Six of the Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state laws.

Amendment Process

The procedure for making changes to the Constitution, requiring proposal by two-thirds of Congress or state legislatures and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

Preamble

The introductory sentence of the Constitution outlining the purposes of government.

Domestic Tranquility

The purpose of government to maintain peace within the country.

Establish Justice

To create a judicial system that protects rights, enforces laws fairly, and interprets laws.

Promote the General Welfare

The goal of ensuring citizens can lead healthy and happy lives.

Provide for the Common Defense

The constitutional promise that the military will protect the country and its citizens.

Ratify

To approve or confirm, as when states ratified the Constitution.

The Articles of Confederation

The previous governing document that had weaknesses that the Constitution sought to fix.

Liberty

Freedom granted to American citizens, to be protected for current and future generations.

The United States Constitution

The highest law of the land that establishes the framework for United States government.

Sustainable Living

The ability of citizens to support themselves and their families.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government responsible for making laws, consisting of Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).

Congress

The national legislative body of the United States, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures no one branch of government gains too much power by providing each branch with some measure of influence over the other branches.

Executive Branch

The branch of government that enforces the laws, headed by the President of the United States.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that interprets laws and administers justice, which includes the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the United States, responsible for interpreting the Constitution and adjudicating federal laws.

Treason

The crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.

State Responsibilities

Obligations and duties that individual states have towards each other and the federal government, outlined in Article Four of the Constitution.

Amendments

Changes or additions to the Constitution, which require a two-thirds vote in Congress and three-fourths approval by the states to be ratified.

Supremacy Clause

Article Six of the Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state laws.

Ratification

The formal approval of an agreement, treaty, or constitution, which in the case of the Constitution required nine states.

Legislative Branch

The part of the government that is responsible for making laws, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two houses or chambers, specifically in the case of the U.S. Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress made up of 435 members, serving two-year terms and representing districts based on state population.

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress, consisting of 100 members with two senators from each state, serving six-year terms.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 meeting where delegates convened to address issues in the Articles of Confederation, ultimately leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

The Great Compromise

An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body charges a government official with misconduct; initiated in the House of Representatives and tried in the Senate.

Gerrymandering

The practice of redrawing congressional district boundaries to favor one political party over another.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislative action, often involving prolonged speechmaking.

Apportionment

The process of determining how many congressional seats each state gets based on population.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing district boundaries within states, typically following the census.

Majority Vote

The requirement that more than half of the votes cast must be in favor for a bill or decision to pass.

Veto

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Override

The ability of Congress to reverse a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses.

The 3/5 Compromise

A compromise reached during the Constitutional Convention that counted three-fifths of the slave population for representation purposes.

Federalists

Supporters of the ratification of the Constitution, who advocated for a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution's ratification, who favored stronger state governments and individual liberties.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee individual rights and liberties.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for enforcing laws, headed by the President.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government that makes laws, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that interprets laws and administers justice through the court system.

Cabinet

A group of the President's advisors, consisting of the heads of executive departments.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful, each branch has some measure of influence over the other branches.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution, which formally elects the President and Vice President.

Veto Power

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

Pardons

The President's power to forgive someone for a crime, erasing their punishment.

Line of Succession

An order of officials becoming President if the current President is unable to serve.

Officer of the Cabinet

A member of the cabinet who assists the President but is not considered a cabinet member.

Natural Born Citizen

A person who is a citizen of the United States from birth.

Secretary of State

The head of the Department of State, primarily responsible for foreign policy.

Secretary of the Treasury

The head of the Department of the Treasury, responsible for economic policy and financial matters.

Secretary of Defense

The head of the Department of Defense, in charge of military policies and operations.

Department of Justice

The department responsible for enforcing the law and administering justice.

Department of Homeland Security

A department created to protect the United States from various threats including terrorism.

Impeachment

A process by which a sitting President or other federal officials can be removed from office.

Executive Orders

Directives issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government.

Clemency

An act of mercy or leniency granted by the President.

Budget

An official estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.

Federal Agencies

Governmental organizations responsible for specific functions within the federal government.

Federal Commissions

Independent regulatory agencies that implement laws and regulations.

Judicial Branch

The branch of the US government responsible for interpreting laws, consisting of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States, which has both original and appellate jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction

The right of a court to decide a case, which can be original or appellate.

Appellate Courts

Courts that review decisions made by lower courts to ensure laws were applied correctly.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

Federal District Courts

The trial courts of the federal court system, which cover specific geographic areas.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to examine laws and executive actions to determine if they are constitutional.

Impeachment

The process by which a federal judge can be removed from office.

Precedent

A legal decision that serves as an authority for deciding future cases.

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

Chief Justice

The head justice of the Supreme Court, responsible for presiding over court sessions.

Life Tenure

The lifetime appointment of federal judges, allowing them to serve until they resign, retire, or are impeached.

Circuit Courts of Appeals

The intermediate appellate courts in the federal court system that hear appeals from district courts.

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality, often adjudicated in federal courts.

Quorum

The minimum number of justices required to be present for the Supreme Court to conduct its business.

Constitutionality

The quality of being in accordance with the U.S. Constitution.

Checks and Balances

A system where each branch of government has power over the other branches to prevent one from becoming too powerful.

Legislative Branch

The part of the US government led by Congress, responsible for making laws.

Executive Branch

The part of the US government led by the president, responsible for enforcing laws.

Judicial Branch

The part of the US government led by the Supreme Court, responsible for interpreting laws.

Impeachment

The process by which Congress can formally charge a president with a crime and remove them from office.

Veto

The power of the president to reject bills passed by Congress.

Nomination

The process by which the president selects a candidate for a government position, such as a Supreme Court justice.

Unconstitutional

A term describing a law or action that violates the Constitution, and which can be declared invalid by the Supreme Court.

Pardon

The president's power to excuse a convicted criminal from punishment.

Separation of Powers

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

Bill

A proposed piece of legislation that is presented for debate and approval to a legislative body.

Veto

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Pocket Veto

A situation in which the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within ten days while Congress is not in session, effectively preventing it from becoming law.