Government and Constitutional Amendments Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to government, constitutional amendments, and significant Supreme Court cases, providing definitions and legal context.

Amendment 7

Amendment that provides the right to trial by jury in civil cases.

Amendment 26

Amendment that guaranteed the right to vote to 18 year olds.

Democracy

Type of government where power is derived from the people and the people elect representation.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court case that ruled separate but equal public accommodations for the races was constitutional.

Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts

A series of acts passed by the government in response to the Boston Tea Party that caused outrage among colonists.

Federalism

The breaking of the government into Federal and state levels, each having certain powers.

Amendment 15

Amendment that doesn't allow you to deny a vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Citizenship

Rights and responsibilities entitled to citizens belonging to a political state or country.

Senate

The upper house of the United States Congress with 100 members, 2 from each state.

Amendment 24

Amendment that forbade requiring the payment of a poll tax to vote in a federal election.

Amendment 3

Amendment that prohibits forced quartering of soldiers.

Great Compromise

Introduced by Roger Sherman; set up a bicameral Congress with the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Amendment 23

Granted voters in the District of Columbia the right to vote for president and vice president.

Legislative Branch (Congress)

The branch that makes the laws and is made up of many representatives elected directly by the people.

Presidential Succession

The order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy.

Amendment 17

Amendment that gives the right to elect US senators by popular vote.

Amendment 16

Amendment that states Congress has the right to levy an income tax.

Amendment 13

No person under the jurisdiction of the US can be a slave.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Supreme Court case that established the separation between Church and State in schools.

Amendment 25

Amendment that provided for succession to the office of president in the event of death or incapacity.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

The court ruled that manual recounts of presidential ballots in the 2000 election could not proceed.

Amendment 8

Amendment that prohibits cruel & unusual punishment.

Amendment 18

Congress has the right to prohibit the manufacture, sale and transportation of liquor.

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office.

Amendment 5

Amendment that lists rules for indictment by grand jury and protects the right to due process.

Due Process of Law

Fair treatment through the normal judicial system.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting of state delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, producing the new U.S. Constitution.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that government derives its power from the people.

Preamble to the Constitution

The opening section of the Constitution stating its fundamental purposes and guiding principles.

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson, adopted on July 4, 1776, establishing the 13 American colonies as independent states.

Executive Branch

Headed by the President, it carries out laws and includes the Vice President and Cabinet members.

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Clause that gives Congress the right to make all laws necessary to carry out powers not expressly stated.

Amendment 1

Amendment that represents freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

Civic Duty

A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Supreme Court decision that stated that slaves were not citizens.

Mayflower Compact

The first agreement for self-government in America, signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower.

Amendment 14

Amendment that grants citizenship to all persons born in the United States.

Amendment 19

Amendment that states all women have the right to vote.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1968)

The court decided that the First Amendment applied to public schools, requiring constitutionally valid regulation of speech.

Amendment 10

Amendment that states powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.

Judicial Review (Marbury v. Madison)

Supreme Court decides if laws passed by Congress or the President are constitutional.

Amendment 2

The right to bear arms.

Enumerated/Expressed Powers

Powers Congress has that are specifically stated in the Constitution.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that interprets the law, made up of the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

Equal Protection Clause

Clause forbidding states to deny any person equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Amendment 27

Amendment that banned Congress from increasing its members' salaries until the next election.

Civil Rights Movement

Movement in the United States beginning in the 1960s to establish civil rights.

Checks and Balances

System whereby each branch of government has the power to check the others to prevent one from becoming too powerful.

Amendment 6

Amendment that protects the right to a fair and speedy trial.

English Bill of Rights

Document designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs, influential to the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Pamphlet advocating for colonies to declare independence from Britain.

Free Exercise Clause

Part of the First Amendment explaining that you have the freedom to practice any religion of your choice.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Supreme Court case that ruled evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment may not be used in state courts.

U.S. Constitution

Written at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, establishing the highest law of the land.

Amendment 4

Amendment that prohibits unreasonable search and seizures.

American Revolution

War between Great Britain and its American colonies, by which the colonies won their independence.

Mayor

Head of a city's government elected by the people who are citizens of that city.

Electoral College

A group of electors chosen by each state to formally elect the president.

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people give up some freedoms to the government to protect their rights.

Amendment 21

Amendment that repeals the 18th Amendment and empowers Congress to regulate liquor industries.

Veto power

Presidential power to stop a bill from becoming law by rejecting it.

Civic Responsibility

Responsibilities of a citizen, examples include voting and serving on juries.

Amendment 20

Amendment stating presidential inauguration is on Jan. 20 and a new Congress opens on Jan. 3.

Articles of Confederation

Document adopted in 1781 creating a weak national government; later replaced by the U.S. Constitution.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Case stating state courts must provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants who cannot afford attorneys.

President pro tempore of the Senate

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the Vice President.

3/5 Compromise

Compromise during the writing of the Constitution that allowed 3 of every 5 slaves to count in state populations.

U.S. Supreme Court

Highest court in the nation; hears only appeals and interprets Constitutional law.

Supremacy Clause

Clause stating the Constitution is the highest law of the land.