The US Constitution: Vocabulary Terms

amendment

A change or addition; The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.

Anti-Federalist

A person who opposed the new plan of government

appoint

Select or choose; Nominate (in cases of Executive appointee)

bicameral

Composed of two (legislative) chambers

Senate

“Upper House, ” = representation (2 per state) - represents the state

House of Representatives

“Lower House,” proportional rep (population) - represents ppl

bill

A draft of a proposed law presented for approval to a legislative body

compromise

Resolving a dispute by getting both sides to give up something

convention

a meeting of representatives or delegates

counterfeit

A forgery made in exact imitation of something valuable

due process

Right of the accused to be treated fairly and according to the law

federalism

Sharing the power between a central government and its political subdivisions

Federalist

A person who favored the new form of government

impeach

To bring an official to trial for misconduct in office

import

Bring a good/service into the country from another country

export

Send a good/service to another country for sale

interstate

Existing or carrying on between states

intrastate

Existing or occurring within a state

override

To overrule; have the final authority or say

pardon

Official forgiveness for a crime or offense

popular sovereignty

The idea that a gov’t is created by and subject to the will of the people

preamble

An introductory statement that explains a document’s purpose

proportional representation

Representation in Legislature is based on population

ratify / ratification

To approve / approval

repeal

To revoke, cancel, call off

republic

A country whose power is held by citizens who elect reps to manage the gov’t

unicameral

Composed of one (legislative) chamber

veto

Power to reject a bill