Section 1A
The introduction that explains why the U.S. Constitution was written.
What is the Preamble?
This principle protects the rights of the minority and allows the minority to express its views on issues.
What are minority rights?
This is the vote required to override a veto.
What is a 2/3 vote of both houses of congress?
The President's power to reject a law.
What is veto?
This is a written change made to the Constitution, outlined in Article V.
What are amendments?
The powers shared between the state and federal governments.
What are concurrent powers?
These are the powers not specifically given to the federal government, saved for the state governments.
What are the reserved powers?
The lawmaking branch of the federal government.
What is the legislative branch?
This branch of government is responsible for carrying out the laws.
What is the executive branch?
The action of passing an amendment to cancel another amendment.
What is repeal?
The principle that in a disagreement, everyone will accept the decision of the majority.
What is majority rule?
The first 10 amendments, added to the Constitution in 1791, which details the specific freedoms that belong to every United States citizen.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The principle of making sure neither branch of government is more powerful than the others, based off the work of the French philosopher, Montesquieu.
What are checks and balances?
This philosophy: One branch would write the laws. Another would carry out the laws. A third branch would interpret the laws
What is separation of powers?
These people are the Presidents advisors, but are not written down in the Constitution.
What is the Cabinet?
Powers given directly to the federal government.
What are delegated powers?
To keep the new government from becoming too powerful, the framers created this, a government with specific restrictions on its power.
What is limited government?
The branch of government which interprets the meaning of the laws and sets punishments for those who break them.
What is the judicial branch?
The head of the judicial branch.
What is the Supreme Court?
These are laws that punish a person without a jury trial.
What are bills of attainder?
This is the consent of the governed.
What is popular sovereignty?
These are the 6 goals of the Constitution.
What are form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty?
This principle states that it is up to the courts to review the acts of the other branches of government. The courts decide whether the government has acted correctly.
What is judicial review?
This case, in 1803, set up the principle of judicial review.
What is Marbury vs. Madison?
These are laws which make an act a crime after the act has been committed.
What are ex post facto laws?