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