National and State Constitutions
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, this document guarantees freedoms and liberties
What is the Bill of Rights?
This principle of limited government is designed to prevent government abuse by making everyone follow the same rules and face the same penalties
What is the rule of law?
Lawmakers legislate, or create laws, in response to the wants and needs of this group of people
Who are the voters?
The special system created for the sole purpose of electing the U.S. President
What is the Electoral College?
This court is the highest level court of the judicial branch, with the ability to overturn rulings of lower courts and declare laws unconstitutional
What is the U.S. Supreme Court?
This opening part of the U.S. Constitution explained the purpose of government in the newly independent United States of America
What is the Preamble?
With a process similar to the national Constitution, amendments to the Virginia State Constitution begin here, the state's version of Congress
What is the General Assembly?
Because the First Amendment bans the government from endorsing or banning religion, there is said to be a "separation" of these two entities
What are church and state?
The legislative branch of government consists of these two houses of Congress
What are the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Between creating, enforcing, or interpreting laws, the one that is the responsibility of the executive branch
What is enforcing laws?
Per Article III of the Constitution, this is the term length of a federal judge
What is life?
This document officially severed ties with Great Britain and declared that all people have "certain unalienable rights"
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This amendment guarantees due process of law and provides for rights of the accused, such as access to a lawyer
What is the 5th Amendment?
This basic principle, which a current political party is named after, is demonstrated when members of Congress are elected to make laws on behalf of the people.
What is republicanism?
The ultimate weapon against legislation in the U.S. Senate, this term refers to stalling a bill through endless debate and talking
What is a filibuster?
The group of advisers that exist to guide the President on major issues in government
What is the Cabinet?
This amendment checks the judicial branch by banning excessive bail as well as cruel or unusual punishment
What is the 8th Amendment?
This man is credited as the main writer of the Declaration of Independence
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
There are six purposes of government listed in the U.S. Constitution. Name three of them.
What is secure the blessings of liberty, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, form a more perfect union, and provide for the common defense?
The proper term for powers that are shared between the federal and state governments
What are concurrent powers?
The State of the Union address is an annual speech given by this individual to help guide Congress
Who is the U.S. President?
A president vetoing legislation is an example of this concept, designed to prevent one branch of government from having too much power
What are checks and balances?
Between being able to drive, going to college, or being granted a lawyer, the one that the judicial branch would describe as a civil liberty (or guaranteed right)
What is being granted a lawyer?
The charters of this company were the first to guarantee colonists the same rights as other Englishmen
What is the Virginia Company of London?
The total number of amendments to the U.S. Constitution
What is 27?
Powers such as coining money, making treaties, and declaring war are all expressed powers given to this level of government
Granted under the Necessary and Proper Clause, these types of powers are understood to be usable by Congress since the founders could not have predicted how times would change
What are implied powers?
In addition to his role as leader of the country, the President is also the primary foreign affairs representative of the nation as well, which is more commonly called this
What is Chief Diplomat?
The judicial branch primarily checks the other branches through this concept
What is judicial review?
The government that was ultimately replaced by the U.S. Constitution due to its many problems
What is the Articles of Confederation?