Honors Civics - Vocabulary - Chapter 3: The Constitution

constitution

a detailed, written plan for government

bicameral

a legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

confederation

a group of individuals or state governments

ratify

to vote approval of

convert

to change from one belief, form, or use to another

area

a region or section

impact

to influence or affect

Constitutional Convention

meeting of state delegates in 1787 leading to adoption of new constitution

Great Compromise

agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation

Three-Fifths Compromise

agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of other persons in determining representation in Congress

Electoral College

a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Federalists

supporters of the Constitution

federalism

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states

Anti-Federalists

those who opposed ratification of the Constitution

process

an action or a series of actions directed toward a result

despite

in spite of

Preamble

the opening secition of the Constitution

legislative branch

the lawmaking branch of government

executive branch

the branch of government that carries out laws

judicial branch

the branch of government that interprets laws

amendment

any change in the Constitution

consist

to be made up of

assume

to take over a job or responsibility

popular sovereignty

the notion that power lies with the people

rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

separation of powers

the split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches

checks and balances

a system in which each branch is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others

expressed powers

powers that Congress has that are specifically listed in the Constitution

reserved powers

powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states

concurrent powers

powers shared by the federal and state governments

ensure

to secure or make sure

assign

to dole out or give as a task