You will need to be able to define all of these key terms -
- Framers: One of the people who wrote the U.S. Constitution
- Federalists: an advocate or supporter of federalism
- Anti-Federalists: an opponent of federalism
- Bicameral: (of a legislative body) having two branches or chambers
- Impeachment: is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as criminal or civil punishment.
- Checks & Balances: A fundamental principle of American government, guaranteed by the Constitution, whereby each branch of the government (executive, judicial, and legislative) has some measure of influence over the other branches and may choose to block procedures of the other branches.
- Executive checking Legislative:
- Legislative checking Executive:
- Judicial checking Legislative:
- How a Supreme Court Justice is chosen:
- Judicial review: review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act.
- Elastic clause: a statement in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers.
- Separation of powers: an act of making the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government into separate bodies.
- Popular sovereignty: the principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives (Rule by the People), who are the source of all political power.
- Repeal: revoke or annul (a law or congressional act).
- Bail: the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition that a sum of money be lodged to guarantee their appearance in court.
- Posterity: all future generations of people
- Miranda Rights: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”