The Constitution
The document that created the three branches of the U.S. government and defines their powers.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
The powers specifically listed for Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
What are enumerated powers?
The clause that gives Congress the power to regulate trade between states.
What is the Commerce Clause?
The theory that interprets the Constitution based on its meaning at the time of its writing.
What is originalism?
The constitutional protection that guarantees fair treatment through the legal system.
What is due process?
The three branches of the U.S. government are this branch that makes laws, this branch that enforces laws, and this branch that interprets laws.
What are the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches?
Powers that are reserved for the states under the Tenth Amendment.
What are reserved powers?
The buying and selling of goods between different states.
What is interstate commerce
The belief that the Constitution should adapt and change as society evolves.
What is the living Constitution theory?
The constitutional protection that prevents the government from taking private property without providing compensation.
What is the Takings Clause?
The name given to the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution that protect individual rights and freedoms.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The clause stating that federal law overrides conflicting state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
Business activity conducted entirely within a single state.
What is intrastate commerce?
The process used to make changes or additions to the U.S. Constitution.
What is the amendment process?
The First Amendment right that protects people’s ability to share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
What is freedom of speech?
The two chambers that make up the U.S. Congress.
What are the Senate and the House of Representatives?
The state power is used to protect the health, safety, and welfare of citizens.
What is the police power
The process of removing government rules and restrictions from businesses.
What is deregulation?
The approach that interprets the Constitution by following the exact words written in the document.
What is textualism?
The constitutional protection that prevents the government from taking private property without compensation.
What is the Takings Clause?
The power that allows courts to review laws and declare them unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?
Taxes on imports and exports that states are prohibited from creating.
What are duties?
Agencies that create and enforce rules and regulations.
What is regulatory agencies
The theory that argues the Constitution’s meaning should evolve as society changes.
What is the living Constitution theory?
Speech that involves advertisements and may be regulated if it is misleading.
What is commercial speech?