U.S. Constitution and Government Principles

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the basic principles, constitutional compromise plans, formal and informal amendment methods, constitutional articles, and key historical distinctions from the lecture notes.

Rule of law

The principle that government and its officers are subject to the law.

Unconstitutional

Anything that contradicts anything said in the Constitution.

Constitution

The rulebook for the government and the supreme law of the land.

Privileges and Immunities

The constitutional principle that all citizens are entitled to certain privileges and immunities regardless of state.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

A constitutional clause stating that Congress can pass any law deemed necessary and proper.

Full Faith and Credit

The requirement that states need to accept all public judicial proceedings regardless of state.

Extradition

A legal process where a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that both the federal government and state governments possess.

Majority Rule / Minority Rights

The principle that the majority is more often right than wrong, but it must still hear and respect the minority.

Bill of Rights

The name given to the first $10$ amendments to the Constitution.

Expressed Powers

Powers specifically written and stated in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but that can be interpreted.

Inherent Powers

Assumed powers of the national government.

Popular Sovereignty

A basic constitutional principle where the people consent to be governed by representatives.

Limited Government

A basic constitutional principle stating that the government cannot take any rights away.

Separation of Powers

Power divided among the Legislative branch (Congress), Executive branch (President), and Judicial branch (Supreme Court).

Checks and Balances

A system where each branch of government has the power to check and restrain the other branches.

Judicial Review

Power given to the Supreme Court to deem an action unconstitutional, and therefore null and void.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between the national and state governments.

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

An agreement establishing that slavery must be completely gone in $20$ years, anything before $1808$ does not count, and there can be no tax on exports.

Connecticut Compromise

A plan establishing a bicameral legislature with equal representation in Congress/Senate and representation by population in the House.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal that representation should be equal for all states, using a unicameral legislature.

$\frac{3}{5}\text{s}$ Compromise

An agreement where enslaved individuals count as $\frac{3}{5}$ of a person for representation in the House of Representatives.

Virginia Plan

A proposal to base legislative representation on population, using a bicameral legislature.

Formal Amendment: Method $1$

Proposed by Congress (both sides) and ratified by state legislatures or conventions of the states.

Formal Amendment: Method $2$

Proposed by a national convention and ratified by state legislatures or conventions of the states.

Basic Legislation

An informal way to change the Constitution through passing laws, bills, and legislation.

Executive Actions

An informal constitutional method involving executive actions and executive orders of the president.

Party Practices

An informal way to influence government through nominating conventions and pitching presidential candidates.

Custom and Usage

An informal way the Constitution adapts through unwritten traditions of how the government operates.

Senatorial Courtesy

An informal custom where senators approve, stand behind, and endorse presidential nominees.

Preamble

The opening section of the Constitution that states the purpose of the document.

Article I

The article of the Constitution establishing the Legislative branch, where Congress makes laws.

Article II

The article of the Constitution establishing the Executive branch, where the President (POTUS) enforces laws.

Article III

The article of the Constitution establishing the Judicial branch, where the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) interprets laws.

Article IV

The article addressing relations among the states, including documents and court decisions.

Article V

The article detailing how to amend the Constitution to make changes or additions, with federal Congress and states working together.

Article VI

The Supremacy Clause establishing the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, along with debts and oaths of office.

Article VII

The ratification article requiring $9/13$ states to ratify for the Constitution to become official ($38$ out of $50$ today).

Declaration of Independence

Document associated with Thomas Jefferson as father, James Madison as father (per lecture notes), separation from Great Britain, and July $4$, $1776$.

Constitution (Historical Identifiers)

Document associated with the Bill of Rights, framed in September $1787$, having $27$ amendments added, and signed largest by John Hancock (per lecture notes).