Magna Carta
an English document signed by King John in 1215 that instituted that “rule of law” and protected certain individu
3/5 Compromise
the resolution to a dispute over how enslaved people should be counted within a population; provided that three-fifths of the enslaved people in a state would be counted when determining a state’s population
Anti-Federalist
opponents of the Constitution
Bill of Rights
a series of 10 amendments to the Constitution ratified by the states that protect such rights as freedom of speech, press, and religion, as well as due process protections
Federalist Papers
essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to defend the Constitution
Great Compromise
plan of government that combined elements of the Virginia and New Jersey plans; included a bicameral legislature in which membership in one house would be based on state population and membership in the other would be limited to two members per state
English Bill of Rights
Northwest Ordinance an English document passed by Parliament in 1689 that limited monarchs’ power to enact laws, raise taxes, or keep an army without Parliament’s consent; guaranteed Parliament the privilege of free speech; and gave all people protection from cruel and unusual punishment
Northwest Ordinance
1787 legislation that established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the US
Charter Colony
colonies operated under charters agreed to by the colony and the king
1st Amendment
Guarantees the right to the freedoms of speech, press, and religion. Protects the right to petition the government.
Eelectoral College
the body of 538 people elected from the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Checks and Balances
the system that gives each branch of government the power to change or cancel acts of another branch
Federalism
the powers of government are distributed between the national government and state governments
16th Amendment
Reserves the U.S. government the right to tax income.
Popular Sovereignty
government gets its authority from the people and ultimate political power remains with the people
Political Party
an organized group that seeks to win elections in order to influence the activities of government.
Judicial Review
is power to determine whether the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government are constitutional
Bill of Rights
1st ten amendments to the constitution
Super Majority
a majority—such as three-fifths, two-thirds,or three-fourths—that is larger than a simple majority
Supremacy Clause
declares the Constitution the supreme law of the land
Reserved Power
powers that belong to the states because the Constitution neither delegates these powers to the national government nor prohibits them to the states
Dual Federalism
period when federal and state governments prevailed in their own spheres.
New Federalism
a system of federalism in which authority is returned to the state governments
Grants in Aid
money and other resources that the national government provides to pay for state and local activities
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Article IV of the Constitution, which requires that states give “full faith and credit” to the public acts, official records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
Expressed Power
federal courts
Implied Power
powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution but are logical extensions of expressed powers
Sherman Antitrust Act
powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution but are logical extensions of expressed powers
Inherent Power
powers that historically have been recognized as naturally belonging to all governments that conduct the business of a sovereign nation
Necessary and Proper Clause
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution, which states Congress’s implied powers; also called the elastic clause
Majority Leader
serves ad the assistant to the speaker
Roll call vote
a vote in which each member is required to publicly state his or her vote, also known as a record vote
Writ of Habeas Corpus
a court order that forces the police to present a person in court to face charges, except in cases of rebellion or invasion
Seperation of Power
an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies. Splitting them off.
Rider
a provision attached to a bill that bears little relationship to the bill’s main topic
Expressed Power
powers granted to the national government by the Constitution
Impeachment
when Congress charges an official in the executive or judicial branch with wrongdoing and brings them to trial
Whip
elected members of the majority or minority party who encourage fellow party members to vote as the party leadership wants
Floor Leader
elected member of the majority or minority party who helps manage the actions and strategy of the party in the House of Representatives
Misdemeanor
a minor criminal case punishable by one year or less of prison time
Majority Opinion
a court opinion signed by at least five of the nine justices of the Supreme Court
Senatorial Courtesy
tradition in which a senator from the same state as a judicial nominee and from the same political party as the president can block the nominee and expect no opposition from other senators
Exclusive Jurisdiction
The sole right to hear a case
Public Defender
A lawyer appointed to defend people who cannot afford
Dissenting opinion
court opinions held by the minority of justices who do not agree with the ruling in a case
District Court
court occupying the lowest tier
Plantiff
the person making a legal complaint
Appellant
a person who files an appeal to have their case reviewed by a court of appeals
Senate Judiciary Committee
group that holds confirmation hearings of supreme court nominee