U.S. Constitution
The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government, the tasks these institutions perform, and the relationships among them.
Committee of Five
A group of five members who drafted and presented to the full Congress what would become the United States Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776.
Articles of Confederation
The articles established the continental Congress as the national legislation, but left most authority with state legislators.
New Jersey Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
Virginia Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress to be proportional to its populations.
Great Compromise
In which representation is based on state's population; and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.
3/5 Compromise
That three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.
Limited Government
The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
The Rule of Law
Principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern.
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments.
Separation of Powers
A feature of the Constitution that requires the three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—to be relatively independent of each others so that one cannot control the others.
Checks and Balances
Features of the Constitution that require each branch of the federal government to obtain the consent of the others for its actions; they limit the power of each branch.
Popular Sovereignty
a doctrine in political theory that government is created by and subject to the will of the people.
Commerce Clause
The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.
Supremacy Clause
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Enumerated powers
Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.
Implied Powers
Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution.
Concurrent Powers
Powers shared by the national and state governments.
Reserved Powers
A political power reserved by a constitution to the exclusive jurisdiction of a specified political authority.
Denied Powers
Powers denied to nation and state government branches to maintain balance and fairness.
Civil Liberties
Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens.
Civil Rights
Personal rights guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress.