Consitution Specific Terms

ratify

To make legal by officially approving

delegate

a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference

treason

Helping an enemy of the country or an act of war against our country 

Constitution

A written plan of government

preamble

The first lines of the Constitution that declare the purpose of the document and that they are doing it for the United States of America

Articles

a separate clause or paragraph of a legal document or agreement, typically one outlining a single rule or regulation - for our Constitution, there are seven that make up the basic Constitution:

1 Legislative Branch - Congress (makes the laws) 2 Executive Branch - President (enforces the laws) 3 Judicial Branch - Supreme Court (interprets the laws) 4 States Information - must recognize other states’ laws 5 Amendments information - (changes/additions to the Constitution) 6 Supremacy Clause - Supreme Law of the Land - no law can contradict the Constitution 7 Ratification Requirements - 9 out of 13 states must approve

amendents

changes or additions to the Constitution

Legislative Branch

Known as Congress  -  they make the Laws and are made up of the Senate and House of Representatives

Senate

The part of Congress that has equal representation per state (2 Senators per state)

House of Representatives

The part of Congress that is elected by proportional representation (population)

bill

a draft of an idea for a proposed law presented to Congress 

Executive Branch

President, Vice President and Cabinet - this Branch’s job is to enforce the laws

cabinet

The group of a President’s top advisors

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court - their job is to interpret laws and actions in relation to the Constitution and to hear cases from lower courts

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution - passed in 1791 - passed as part of agreement with anti-Federalists who were concerned about power of government. 

1st

Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

2nd

Right to bear arms/form state militias

3rd

Quartering of Soldiers - No soldier shall be quartered in any house without permission

4th

Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure without probable cause

5th

Due process of law - rights for persons accused of crimes;  a person cannot be convicted of same crime twice or be forced to testify against oneself

6th

Right to an attorney and speedy trial - rights for persons on trial for crimes

7th

Right to trial by jury in civil cases

8th

Right against excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment

9th

Constitutional rights do not deny other rights - rights kept by the people

10th

States’ rights - powers not given to the federal government are kept by the states/people

Elastic Clause

Also called the Necessary and Proper Clause; Congress has the right to make any other laws it sees as “necessary and proper” 

Electoral College

The system created for choosing the president during an election 

impeach

To charge the holder of a public office with misconduct