1
the privilege of purchasing something or borrowing money and paying the money back over time
credit
relating to a government where power is shared between the central, national government and that of states or provinces
federal
A document that organizes a government and states its power
Constitution
A person chosen or elected to represent a group of people
Delegate
To approve formally by vote
Ratify
Delegates to the 1787 constitutional convention who helped shape the content and structure of the US Constitution
Framers
A group of countries or states that allows the members to trade freely among themselves
Common market
The first ten amendments to the US constitution a list of guarantees to which every person in a country is entitled
Bill Of Rights
The highest court in the United States
Supreme Court
An official law decree or directive
Ordinance
The section of the US government headed by the president responsible for enforcing the law
Executive Branch
The group that elects the U.S. president; each state receives as many electors as it has congressional representatives and senators combined
Electoral college
The division of governmental power among the 3 branches of US government
Separation of powers
A provision in article one of the US constitution granting congress of power to make laws concerning foreign trade as well as trade among the states and with native American nations
Commerce clause
Having the right to self rule or independent government
Sovereign
A federal law that set up a system to allow settlers to purchase land in the undeveloped west
Ordinance of 1785
A provision in Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution that prevented free states from emancipating enslaved workers who had escaped from their masters in other states
Fugitive slave cause
A formal, written law page
Statute
A person who supported the U.S. Constitution of 1787 as it was written during the process of ratification
Federalist
A provision in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution that established that the United States would not consider prohibiting the international slave trade in the United States until 1808
Slave importation cause
The section of the U.S. government led by Congress; responsible for making the law
Legislative branch
The section of the U.S. government that includes the courts and legal system, led by the Supreme Court; responsible for interpreting the law
Judicial branch
The support of a government where power is shared between the central, national government and that of states or provinces
Federalism
The system established by the U.S. Constitution that gives each of the branches of government the power to limit the power of the other two
Checks and balances
A legislation adopted by Congress to establish stricter control over the government of the Northwest Territory
Northwest ordinance of 1787