Constitution: The written plan for the US government and the nation's highest law Year written: 1787, in Philadelphia Year in effect: 1789, after nine states ratified it in 1788 Constitutional Convention: Meeting of state delegates in 1787 that wrote the Constitution Framers: The delegates who wrote the Constitution James Madison: Called the Father of the Constitution George Washington: President of the Constitutional Convention Preamble: The introduction that begins 'We the People' Purposes in the Preamble: Form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure peace, provide defense, promote welfare, secure liberty Article I: Describes Congress, the legislative branch Article II: Describes the president, the executive branch Article III: Describes the courts, the judicial branch Article IV: Describes the relationship of states to each other and the nation Article V: Explains how to amend the Constitution Article VI: Says the Constitution is the supreme law of the land Article VII: Explains how the Constitution would be ratified Supremacy Clause: Federal law is above state law when they conflict Popular sovereignty: Government's power comes from the people Limited government: The government has only the powers the Constitution gives it Separation of powers: Power is divided among three branches Checks and balances: Each branch can limit the other two Federalism: Power shared between national and state governments Republicanism: People elect representatives to govern for them Individual rights: Basic freedoms protected from government interference Great Compromise: Gave states equal votes in the Senate and population-based seats in the House Roger Sherman: Delegate from Connecticut who helped craft the Great Compromise Three-Fifths Compromise: Counted three-fifths of enslaved people for representation; later ended Virginia Plan: Proposal for representation based on population New Jersey Plan: Proposal for equal representation for each state Federalists: People who supported ratifying the Constitution Anti-Federalists: People who opposed it without a bill of rights Ratify: To formally approve Amendment: A formal change to the Constitution How to propose an amendment: Two-thirds of both houses of Congress, or a convention called by two-thirds of states How to ratify an amendment: Three-fourths of the states must approve Number of amendments: Twenty-seven Bill of Rights: First ten amendments, ratified in 1791 Necessary and Proper Clause: Lets Congress make laws needed to carry out its powers Commerce Clause: Gives Congress power to regulate trade between states and with other nations Enumerated powers: Powers specifically listed for Congress in Article I Implied powers: Powers not listed but suggested by the listed ones Reserved powers: Powers left to the states under the Tenth Amendment Concurrent powers: Powers shared by federal and state governments, like taxing Elastic clause: Another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause Bicameral: Having two chambers, like the House and Senate Qualifications for president: Natural-born citizen, at least 35, 14 years a resident Qualifications for senator: At least 30, a citizen for nine years, lives in the state Qualifications for representative: At least 25, a citizen for seven years, lives in the state Impeachment: House charges and Senate tries an official for serious misconduct Veto: President's rejection of a bill Veto override: Two-thirds of both houses can pass a bill over a veto Judicial review: Courts can decide that laws violate the Constitution (Marbury v. Madison, 1803) Electoral College: Electors chosen by states formally select the president Habeas corpus: Right to be brought before a court to challenge imprisonment Ex post facto law: A law that punishes an act that was legal when it was done; banned by the Constitution Bill of attainder: A law that declares someone guilty without a trial; banned Treason: Betraying the country, defined narrowly in the Constitution Full Faith and Credit: States must respect each other's public acts and court rulings Extradition: Returning a person accused of a crime to the state where it happened Oath of office: Promise by officials to support the Constitution National Archives: Washington, DC building where the Constitution is displayed Constitution Day: September 17, marking the 1787 signing Signers: Thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution Benjamin Franklin: Oldest delegate at the Convention Gouverneur Morris: Wrote much of the final Constitution's wording Elbridge Gerry: Delegate who refused to sign because it lacked a bill of rights Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/us-constitution-basics