The Constitution
The branch of government responsible for making laws.
What is the Legislative Branch (Congress)?
The Articles of Confederation created the first national government, but left central power intentionally ___.
What is weak?
Serving on one of these when called is a mandatory civic obligation, not just a voluntary suggestion.
What is a jury?
Having supreme power and authority over a nation.
What is sovereign?
Head of the Executive Branch at the federal level.
Who is the President?
Added to the Constitution as the first 10 amendments to protect individual freedoms.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Under the Articles, the national government lacked the critical power to collect these to raise money.
What are taxes?
People living in a representative's district who are represented by that elected official.
What are constituents?
Human rights that you are born with that cannot be taken away.
What are natural (or unalienable) rights?
Head of the Executive Branch at the state level.
Who is the Governor?
This system ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.
What are checks and balances (or separation of powers)?
This armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers exposed the major weaknesses of the Articles.
What is Shays's Rebellion?
Voting in elections and staying informed are examples of civic ___, which citizens should do.
What are civic responsibilities?
Government policy decisions affecting citizens strictly within the nation's borders.
What is domestic policy?
The highest court in the Judicial Branch of the federal government.
What is the Supreme Court?
A formal addition or change made to the U.S. Constitution.
What is an amendment?
The number of executive leaders or presidents that existed to enforce national laws under the Articles.
What is zero?
The term for powers kept strictly for the states or the people under the 10th Amendment.
What are reserved powers?
A form of government controlled by a small group of wealthy or powerful individuals.
What is an oligarchy?
The two houses that make up the U.S. Legislative Branch (Congress).
What are the Senate and the House of Representatives?
Clause in the U.S. Constitution declaring that federal laws take precedence over state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
The year the Constitutional Convention met to replace the weak Articles with a new framework.
What is 1787?
This statement of national ideals calls on citizens to support the Constitution, obey laws, and protect liberty.
What is "The American's Creed"?
A government led by religious leaders operating under religious law.
What is a theocracy?
Leaders who serve on a city's legislative governing body.
What are City Council members (or City Councilors)?