Know Your Terms!
We express this "people power" by voting.
For example, "Congress shall be composed of Members who are choses every year by the People..."
Popular Sovereignty
This amendment preserves your right to speak freely and worship in whatever way you see fit.
This compromise settled a dispute between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature.
The Great Compromise
This amendment protects your right to say or print almost anything without government interference or persecution.
The First Amendment
The Constitution gives authorities within our government a job description, so they know what they can and cannot do.
Limited Government
This amendment was added to the Constitution to prevent this issue -
He has quartered large bodies of armed troops among us."
The Third Amendment
This compromise increased the political power of the South by allowing states to count a portion of their slave population when determining representation in the House of Representatives.
The Three-Fifths Compromise
He is Commander in Chief of the military.
The President
(Executive Branch)
The Legislative Branch makes the laws.
The Judicial Branch interprets the laws.
The Executive Branch enforces the laws.
Separation of Powers
This amendment makes it very clear that the United States does not allow cruel or unusual punishment, excessive fines or excessive bail.
The Eighth Amendment
This amendment prevents the authorities from searching your private property without a warrant.
The Fourth Amendment
This idea was inspired by Magna Carta. In our system, it means we are guaranteed a speedy trial, an impartial jury and legal advice if we're ever accused of a crime.
Due Process
In our system, people are governed by both state and federal laws.
Federalism
"For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury…"
How did the Founding Fathers address this grievance?
The Sixth Amendment
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay wrote these essays to explain the Constitution and encourage the states to ratify it -
The Federalist Papers
Historic document that outlined the Rights of Englishmen and greatly influenced the first ten amendments of our Constitution.
The English Bill of Rights (1689)
We have a government in which decisions are made by elected representatives. What kind of democracy is this?
We have a Republican Democracy
(A Republic)
This amendment limits the powers of the federal government and protects states' rights.
The Tenth Amendment
This amendment was written to make the Anti-Federalists happy. It says that our individual freedoms are not limited to the rights listed in the Constitution.
The Ninth Amendment
This court case established the constitutional idea of Judicial Review.
Marbury v. Madison