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30 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
The introduction to the Constitution, states the major purposes of the federal government.
having the most power within a government
to approve
to change
having a two chamber Congress
the power of the president to reject bills passed by Congress.
Elastic Clause
expands the power of the Congress by giving the power..."to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper..." to carry out the expressed power.
Bill of Rights
written by James Madison, the first ten amendments
System of checks and balances
prevents one part of the government from becoming too powerful by having each branch oversee the actions of the other branches
supporters of the Constitution
those opposed to the Constitution
Great Compromise
Connecticut Compromise-representatives elected based on population, two senators from each state
Three-fifths compromise
3/5 of slaves were counted for taxation and representation
the Federalist Papers
articles which explianed and defended the Constitution
Electorial College/Electors
system which elects the president-people are chosen from each state to elect the president
Legislative (Congress)
makes the laws
Executive(the President)
carries out the laws
Judicial(the Courts)
interprets the laws
counting of the population
a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against an official of the federal government
President pro tempore
upon the absence of the Vice President, he presides of the Senate
Speaker of the House
presides of the House of Representatives
the number of members you need to be able to go ahead and do business. usually a quorum is more than half of the members.
Writ of Hapeas Corpus
a person must be brought before a court and shown the evidence of why he or she is being held. keeps a person from being held in jail without enough evidence.
Poll tax
a fee for voting
Ex Post Facto
says that you can not arrest a person for a crime committed before a law passed making the action illegal.
the right to vote
Bill of Attainder
condemns and punishes a person without a trial by jury
a representative government
a form of government where powers are divided between an central government and states.