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The US Constitution

What the Constitution is, how it is organized, and the big ideas behind it.

66 cardsGrades 6–8, Grades 9–12#constitution#preamble#articles#federalism

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66 cards
  • ConstitutionTerm
    The written plan for the US government and the nation's highest law
  • Year writtenTerm
    1787, in Philadelphia
  • Year in effectTerm
    1789, after nine states ratified it in 1788
  • Constitutional ConventionTerm
    Meeting of state delegates in 1787 that wrote the Constitution
  • FramersTerm
    The delegates who wrote the Constitution
  • James MadisonTerm
    Called the Father of the Constitution
  • George WashingtonTerm
    President of the Constitutional Convention
  • PreambleTerm
    The introduction that begins 'We the People'
  • Purposes in the PreambleTerm
    Form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure peace, provide defense, promote welfare, secure liberty
  • Article ITerm
    Describes Congress, the legislative branch
  • Article IITerm
    Describes the president, the executive branch
  • Article IIITerm
    Describes the courts, the judicial branch
  • Article IVTerm
    Describes the relationship of states to each other and the nation
  • Article VTerm
    Explains how to amend the Constitution
  • Article VITerm
    Says the Constitution is the supreme law of the land
  • Article VIITerm
    Explains how the Constitution would be ratified
  • Supremacy ClauseTerm
    Federal law is above state law when they conflict
  • Popular sovereigntyTerm
    Government's power comes from the people
  • Limited governmentTerm
    The government has only the powers the Constitution gives it
  • Separation of powersTerm
    Power is divided among three branches
  • Checks and balancesTerm
    Each branch can limit the other two
  • FederalismTerm
    Power shared between national and state governments
  • RepublicanismTerm
    People elect representatives to govern for them
  • Individual rightsTerm
    Basic freedoms protected from government interference
  • Great CompromiseTerm
    Gave states equal votes in the Senate and population-based seats in the House
  • Roger ShermanTerm
    Delegate from Connecticut who helped craft the Great Compromise
  • Three-Fifths CompromiseTerm
    Counted three-fifths of enslaved people for representation; later ended
  • Virginia PlanTerm
    Proposal for representation based on population
  • New Jersey PlanTerm
    Proposal for equal representation for each state
  • FederalistsTerm
    People who supported ratifying the Constitution
  • Anti-FederalistsTerm
    People who opposed it without a bill of rights
  • RatifyTerm
    To formally approve
  • AmendmentTerm
    A formal change to the Constitution
  • How to propose an amendmentTerm
    Two-thirds of both houses of Congress, or a convention called by two-thirds of states
  • How to ratify an amendmentTerm
    Three-fourths of the states must approve
  • Number of amendmentsTerm
    Twenty-seven
  • Bill of RightsTerm
    First ten amendments, ratified in 1791
  • Necessary and Proper ClauseTerm
    Lets Congress make laws needed to carry out its powers
  • Commerce ClauseTerm
    Gives Congress power to regulate trade between states and with other nations
  • Enumerated powersTerm
    Powers specifically listed for Congress in Article I
  • Implied powersTerm
    Powers not listed but suggested by the listed ones
  • Reserved powersTerm
    Powers left to the states under the Tenth Amendment
  • Concurrent powersTerm
    Powers shared by federal and state governments, like taxing
  • Elastic clauseTerm
    Another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause
  • BicameralTerm
    Having two chambers, like the House and Senate
  • Qualifications for presidentTerm
    Natural-born citizen, at least 35, 14 years a resident
  • Qualifications for senatorTerm
    At least 30, a citizen for nine years, lives in the state
  • Qualifications for representativeTerm
    At least 25, a citizen for seven years, lives in the state
  • ImpeachmentTerm
    House charges and Senate tries an official for serious misconduct
  • VetoTerm
    President's rejection of a bill
  • Veto overrideTerm
    Two-thirds of both houses can pass a bill over a veto
  • Judicial reviewTerm
    Courts can decide that laws violate the Constitution (Marbury v. Madison, 1803)
  • Electoral CollegeTerm
    Electors chosen by states formally select the president
  • Habeas corpusTerm
    Right to be brought before a court to challenge imprisonment
  • Ex post facto lawTerm
    A law that punishes an act that was legal when it was done; banned by the Constitution
  • Bill of attainderTerm
    A law that declares someone guilty without a trial; banned
  • TreasonTerm
    Betraying the country, defined narrowly in the Constitution
  • Full Faith and CreditTerm
    States must respect each other's public acts and court rulings
  • ExtraditionTerm
    Returning a person accused of a crime to the state where it happened
  • Oath of officeTerm
    Promise by officials to support the Constitution
  • National ArchivesTerm
    Washington, DC building where the Constitution is displayed
  • Constitution DayTerm
    September 17, marking the 1787 signing
  • SignersTerm
    Thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution
  • Benjamin FranklinTerm
    Oldest delegate at the Convention
  • Gouverneur MorrisTerm
    Wrote much of the final Constitution's wording
  • Elbridge GerryTerm
    Delegate who refused to sign because it lacked a bill of rights

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