front 1 Magna Carta | back 1 an English document signed by King John in 1215 that instituted that “rule of law” and protected certain individu |
front 2 3/5 Compromise | back 2 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 |
front 3 Anti-Federalist | back 3 opponents of the Constitution |
front 4 Bill of Rights | back 4 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 |
front 5 Federalist Papers | back 5 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to defend the Constitution |
front 6 Great Compromise | back 6 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 |
front 7 English Bill of Rights | back 7 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 |
front 8 Northwest Ordinance | back 8 1787 legislation that established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory |
front 9 Articles of Confederation | back 9 The first constitution of the US |
front 10 Charter Colony | back 10 colonies operated under charters agreed to by the colony and the king |
front 11 1st Amendment | back 11 Guarantees the right to the freedoms of speech, press, and religion. Protects the right to petition the government. |
front 12 Eelectoral College | back 12 the body of 538 people elected from the 50 states and the District of Columbia |
front 13 Checks and Balances | back 13 the system that gives each branch of government the power to change or cancel acts of another branch |
front 14 Federalism | back 14 the powers of government are distributed between the national government and state governments |
front 15 16th Amendment | back 15 Reserves the U.S. government the right to tax income. |
front 16 Popular Sovereignty | back 16 government gets its authority from the people and ultimate political power remains with the people |
front 17 Political Party | back 17 an organized group that seeks to win elections in order to influence the activities of government. |
front 18 Judicial Review | back 18 is power to determine whether the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government are constitutional |
front 19 Bill of Rights | back 19 1st ten amendments to the constitution |
front 20 Super Majority | back 20 a majority—such as three-fifths, two-thirds,or three-fourths—that is larger than a simple majority |
front 21 Supremacy Clause | back 21 declares the Constitution the supreme law of the land |
front 22 Reserved Power | back 22 powers that belong to the states because the Constitution neither delegates these powers to the national government nor prohibits them to the states |
front 23 Dual Federalism | back 23 period when federal and state governments prevailed in their own spheres. |
front 24 New Federalism | back 24 a system of federalism in which authority is returned to the state governments |
front 25 Grants in Aid | back 25 money and other resources that the national government provides to pay for state and local activities |
front 26 Full Faith and Credit Clause | back 26 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 |
front 27 Expressed Power | back 27 federal courts |
front 28 Implied Power | back 28 powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution but are logical extensions of expressed powers |
front 29 Sherman Antitrust Act | back 29 powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution but are logical extensions of expressed powers |
front 30 Inherent Power | back 30 powers that historically have been recognized as naturally belonging to all governments that conduct the business of a sovereign nation |
front 31 Necessary and Proper Clause | back 31 Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution, which states Congress’s implied powers; also called the elastic clause |
front 32 Majority Leader | back 32 serves ad the assistant to the speaker |
front 33 Roll call vote | back 33 a vote in which each member is required to publicly state his or her vote, also known as a record vote |
front 34 Writ of Habeas Corpus | back 34 a court order that forces the police to present a person in court to face charges, except in cases of rebellion or invasion |
front 35 Seperation of Power | back 35 an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies. Splitting them off. |
front 36 Rider | back 36 a provision attached to a bill that bears little relationship to the bill’s main topic |
front 37 Expressed Power | back 37 powers granted to the national government by the Constitution |
front 38 Impeachment | back 38 when Congress charges an official in the executive or judicial branch with wrongdoing and brings them to trial |
front 39 Whip | back 39 elected members of the majority or minority party who encourage fellow party members to vote as the party leadership wants |
front 40 Floor Leader | back 40 elected member of the majority or minority party who helps manage the actions and strategy of the party in the House of Representatives |
front 41 Misdemeanor | back 41 a minor criminal case punishable by one year or less of prison time |
front 42 Majority Opinion | back 42 a court opinion signed by at least five of the nine justices of the Supreme Court |
front 43 Senatorial Courtesy | back 43 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 |
front 44 Exclusive Jurisdiction | back 44 The sole right to hear a case |
front 45 Public Defender | back 45 A lawyer appointed to defend people who cannot afford |
front 46 Dissenting opinion | back 46 court opinions held by the minority of justices who do not agree with the ruling in a case |
front 47 District Court | back 47 court occupying the lowest tier |
front 48 Plantiff | back 48 the person making a legal complaint |
front 49 Appellant | back 49 a person who files an appeal to have their case reviewed by a court of appeals |
front 50 Senate Judiciary Committee | back 50 group that holds confirmation hearings of supreme court nominee |