Foundational Documents
This document was replaced by the Constitution due to its weak central government.
Articles of Confederation
This branch enforces laws.
Executive Branch
This type of power is shared by both state and federal governments.
Concurrent powers
This branch can veto legislation.
Executive branch
In this type of democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions.
Representative democracy
This principle ensures that federal law takes precedence over state law.
Supremacy Clause
The judicial branch interprets laws, ensuring they align with this key document.
The Constitution
The Necessary and Proper Clause is also known by this name.
Elastic Clause
This branch has the power to impeach federal officials.
Legislative branch
This system elects the President of the United States.
Electoral College
This key issue under the Articles of Confederation made it difficult to resolve disputes between states.
Lack of national judiciary
Enumerated powers belong specifically to this level of government.
Federal government
This event in the late 18th century emphasized the need for a stronger federal government to address domestic unrest.
Shays' Rebellion
Judicial review, the power to declare laws unconstitutional, was established in this case.
Marbury v. Madison
This amendment granted women the right to vote.
The 19th Amendment
The Founders created this system to balance state and national power.
Federalism
This branch has the power to declare war.
Legislative Branch
This Supreme Court case reinforced federal power by declaring that states could not tax federal institutions.
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Congress can override a presidential veto with this proportion of votes in both chambers.
Two-thirds majority
This is the minimum number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
270
The Constitution addressed the Articles’ failure to regulate this critical area of commerce.
Interstate Commerce
Reserved powers, like managing education, belong to this level of government.
State governments
This is the process by which voters choose candidates to represent their political party in the general election.
The state government
The Senate provides a check on executive power by confirming these appointments.
Federal judges
This is the process by which voters choose candidates to represent their political party in the general election.
Primaries