a principle of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches

an agreement made by the people to establish a government and abide by its laws

a period in European history when many educated people stressed the importance of learning and reasoning; education was considered the key to understanding and solving society's problems

a person's ability to be free and independent

having an effect or impact on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others

laws passed by government to protect natural rights

the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments; life, liberty, and property

the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities

an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government

representatives from each of the 13 colonies who decided to meet and write a document stating their reasons for separation and independence from England

an official agreement made by two or more parties

a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England

a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king; written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689

the idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws, and that government leaders and officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and treat all people in the same way

a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement

a system of government in which the king or queen shares authority with an elected legislature and agrees to be bound by a constitution or a set of laws, also known as a constitutional monarchy

a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215

an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620

the introduction to the U.S. Constitution

a set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions

a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law

popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government

the colonial journalist who wrote Common Sense in 1776

a tax

goods sent to another country

merchandise or objects for sale or trade

goods brought into the country

rights guaranteed or belonging to a person

governing body responsible for making laws

to collect by legal authority

the use of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner

the name of the English legislature

a person or group acting on behalf of another person or group

money levied by a government for specific facilities or services

the idea that it is unfair to tax someone without giving them a voice in government

to end

to agree

to take something away

to take

a system of government where the ruler has unlimited power

to bring to an end

to be given something naturally

a complaint

to urge

to establish by using authority or power

to establish

to house

the quality or state of being correct

obvious, having no need of proof

a government in which a single ruler possesses and abuses absolute power

a single ruler that possess and abuses absolute government power

basic rights of the people that may not be taken away

the act of exercising power by force

the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution

a document written in 1776 that listed the basis for democratic government and the grievances of the colonists

the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781 and replaced in 1789

a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government

a meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 where delegates decided to throw out the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution

something owed; such as money

an event when 2000 Massachusetts farmers rebelled against land foreclosures and debt from the Revolutionary War

to carry out effectively

method of protecting oneself

referring to something at home, not foreign

ensure, to make sure

a system of establishing what is legal and illegal by fair rules

to establish something by law

something formed by combining parts, such as states into one country

make a fair and honest system for all

create an even better government that will make life better for all

government will protect citizens from conflict in the country and make sure that states do not go to war with each other

government is focused on the public interest and that every state and individual can benefit from what the government can provide

protect the country from other countries or people that might try to harm us

secure liberty and freedom for current and future generations

a form of government based on a written set of laws that all citizens agree to; in this form of government, the constitution is the highest law of the land

the power of the U.S. courts to examine the laws or actions of the legislative and executive branches of the government and to determine whether such actions are consistent with the U.S. Constitution

U.S. Supreme Court case that established judicial review

a series of essays written to counter and defeat the proposed U.S. Constitution

a group of people in the early United States who opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they feared a strong national government and a lack of protection for individual rights

a series of essays written to explain and defend the proposed U.S. Constitution

a group of people in the early United States who favored the establishment of a strong national government and who worked for ratification of the U.S. Constitution

the process of formally approving something; ratification of the U.S. Constitution

a legal member of a state and/or country

a rule established by government or other source of authority to regulate people's conduct or activities

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that provides freedom from excessive bail or fines and freedom from cruel or unusual punishment for a person accused of a crime

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that provides protections to a person accused of a crime, including the right of due process. Due process is the concept that a person cannot have life, liberty, or property taken away without appropriate legal procedures and protections.

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that provides freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. This amendment also states that warrants must only be issued with probable cause.

an amendment to the Constitution that provides protections and rights to a person accused of a crime including the right to a speedy trial with an impartial jury

law established by the outcome of former cases

law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs

a written code of rules that guided the ancient society of Babylon; dates back to 1772 B.C.

legal precedence based on customs and prior legal decisions; used in civil cases

the interpretation and implementation of the U.S. Constitution

law that deals with crimes and the punishments associated with those crimes

law that deals with the actions and well-being of persons who are not yet adults

laws that have been developed to meet the needs of the military

a rule an agency of the executive branch makes to enforce a law

a main reference or point of origin

the written law enacted by a legislature, as distinguished from unwritten law or common law

a particular category, kind, or group