The Bill of Rights
The first 3 words of the Constitution
What is We the People
The law must be followed and applied to everyone equally... even people in positions of power.
The Constitution gives this branch the power to declare war.
What is the legislative branch ( Congress)?
This section of the Consitution outlines the Judicial Branch.
What is Article III
This protection, provided by Amendment 5, ensures that someone accused of a crime has the right to be brought in front of a judge to hear the charges against them.
What is Habeas Corpus?
What are the purposes and goals of the new Constitution?
The primciple that power is divided in the government between the federal, state, and local governments.
What is federalism?
The Constitution gives this branch command over the armed forces, the power to negotiate treaties and to nominate federal judges.
What is the executive branch?
This power of the Supreme Court was established by the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v Madison and allows the court to invalidate a law that they rule unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?
Amending the Constitution requires an agreement between these two groups.
What is Congress and the State governments.
The first words of the Constitution imply that power and authority in our government come from this.
Who are "the people"?
The principle that power in our government is divided between three distinct branches with their own powers that are designed to limit any one branch from becoming more powerful than the other.
What is seperation of powers/ checks and balances?
These powers are clearly outlined in the Constitution.
What are enumerated powers?
This method of interpreting the Constitution uses the exact wording of the text and the framer's "original intent".
What is "strict" construction or interpretation?
This protection, proivded in Amendment 5, guarantees that there is a legal process in place for anyone who is accused of a crime.
What is due process?
This word from the Constitution shows that the Framers ( writers) hoped it would last for future generations.
What is posterity?
This guiding principle creates a court system seperate from the other branches that should remain immune from social or political pressure.
What is an independent judiciary?
These powers of Congress are not spelled out in the Constitution, but may be inferred if neccessary to carry out its enumerated powers.
What are implied powers?
This way of interpreting the Constitution considers how society and the world has changed and looks at the law through a more modern lens.
What is "loose contruction"?
This guiding principle ensures that all people's rights are protected from the government. These include things like freedom of speech and due process.
What are individual rights?
This guiding principle means that power comes from the people and is expressed through the words "We the People"
What is popular sovereignty?
A political system in which authority comes from the people and is exercised by elected officials on their behalf.
What is republicanism, or a republican system of government?
These are powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as the power to tax.
What are concurrent powers.
A justice on the Supreme Court serves for this long.
What is "for life" ( as long as they don't commit a terrible crime!)