Sets out the basic principles upon which government in the U.S. was built. Is organized into eight sections: the Preamble, and seven articles. The original document is followed by 27 amendments

States the purpose of the constitution

Legislative Branch

Executive Branch

Judicial Branch

Relations among the States and with the National Government

Amending the Constitution

National debts, supremacy of national law, and office

Ratifying the Constitution

Asserts that the people are the source of any and all government power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed

States that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away

The principle in which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government are three independent and coequal branches of government

The system that allows the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to check, or restrain, the actions of one another

Consists of the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action

A system of government in which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments

Changes in the Constitution's written word

Two methods for the proposal and two methods for the ratification of constitutional amendments

may be proposed by Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses and be ratified 3/4 (38) of the State legislatures.

May be proposed by Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses and be ratified by conventions, called for that purpose, in 3/4s (38) of the states.

May be proposed by a national convention called by congress when requested by 2/3 (34) of the State legislatures

May be proposed by a national convention and ratified by conventions held in 3/4 (38) of the States. i.e. the Constitution

The first 10 Amendments of the Constitution

Abolition of slavery

Citizenship, due process, equal protection

No denial of vote because of race, color, or previous enslavement

Prohibition of alcohol

Women suffrage (rights)

Repeal of Prohibition

Voting age of 18

Congressional pay

basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law and stay within the limits of the constitution.

no government officials are above the law

A formal agreement between the US and a foreign country that has been approved by the Senate

Presidents power to reject a piece of legislation from Congress.

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

The lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court

Article II of the Constitution. Establishes the presidency and gives the executive power of the Federal Government to the President.

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. Each individual has rights that the government cannot take away.

Basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law

concept that the government and its officers are always subject to the law

basic principle of American system of government that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government

system of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and executive branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action

contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect

a system of government in which a written constitution divides the power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments like States.

"Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.

United States statesman and leader of the Federalists

17th President of the United States, A Southerner form Tennessee, as V.P. when Lincoln was killed, he became president. He opposed radical Republicans who passed Reconstruction Acts over his veto. The first U.S. president to be impeached, he survived the Senate removal by only one vote. He was a very weak president.

2008; Democrat; first African American president of the US

2016 wealthy real estate developer and celebrity, 45th President of the United States

a change in, or addition to a constitution or law

formal approval or final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

a pact made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which (unlike a treaty) dows not reqire Senate consent

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President

an advisory body to the President

an unwritten rule that is closely followed in the Senate

3rd President of the United States; known as the draftsman of the Declaration of Independence

32nd US President - He began New Deal programs to help the nation out of the Great Depression, and he was the nation's leader during most of WWII

1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)

36th U.S. President; elected as Vice President and took over the presidency upon the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; 1964 signed the Civil Rights Act into law

basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis (in the United States, between the National Government and the States)

Those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the constitution

Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the "enumerated powers"

those delegated powers of the National Government that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the Constitution; those "necessary and proper" to carry out the expressed powers

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community

those powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Government and does not, at the same time, deny to the States

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

Those powers that both the National Government and the States possess and exercise

a provision of the U.S. Constitution that states that the Constitution, federal law, and treaties of the United States are the "supreme Law of the Land"

4th Chief Justice of Supreme Court, expanded power of federal government, influential in Marbury v. Madison decision

A congressional act directing the people of a United States territory to frame a proposed State constitution as a step towards admission to the Union

a congressional act admitting a new State to the Union

grants of federal money or other resources to States, cities, counties, and other local units

one type of federal grants-in-aid; made for some specific, closely defined purpose

one type of federal grants-in-aid for some particular but broadly defined area of public policy

one type of federal grants-in-aid; made for specific projects to States, localities, and private agencies who apply for them

formal agreement entered into with the consent of Congress, between or among States, or between a State and a foreign state

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

The legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state

Constitution's stipulation that all citizens are entitled to certain "privileges and immunities," regardless of their State of residence; no State can draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents and those persons who happen to live in other States

27th president of the U.S.; he angered progressives by moving cautiously toward reforms and by supporting the Payne-Aldrich Tariff; he lost Roosevelt's support and was defeated for a second term.