| Term | Definition |
| Federalism | System of government where sovereignty is divided on the state and national level |
| Sovereignty | Final authority on a matter |
| Creator of theory of Separation of Powers | (Baron de) Montesquieu |
| Legislative Branch | Makes Laws |
| Judicial Branch | Interprets Laws |
| Executive Branch | Enforce Laws |
| Confederation | Loose alliance of strong states under a weak central government |
| Function of the U.S. Government | Establish Justice |
| Function of the U.S. Government | Ensure domestic tranquility |
| Houses of Congress | Senate and House of Representatives |
| Framers | Those who drafted the Constitution |
| Age requirement for House Rep. | 25 |
| Length of citizenship for House Rep. | 7 |
| Term of House Rep. | 2 |
| Elected Chairman for HR | Speaker of the House |
| Age requirement for Senate | 30 |
| Length of citizenship for Senate | 9 |
| Term of Senator | 6 |
| Bills that can only originate in the House of Rep. | Bills for raising revenue |
| President's power to check | veto |
| Fraction of House and Congress in order to pass a vetoed bill | 2/3 |
| Enumerated power of Congress | Power to tax |
| Enumerated power of Congress | Regulation of commerce |
| Enumerated power of Congress | Power to declare war |
| Enumerated power of Congress | Power to raise and fund armies |
| Purpose of "elastic" clause | Allows Congress to utilize the enumerated powers |
| Banned import in Article 1 Section 9 | Slaves |
| Article 2 Branch of Government | Executive |
| Minimum age for presidency | 35 |
| Term of president | 4 |
| Equation for Electoral Votes | HR + S= EC |
| Vice President's Function | Tiebreaker if Congress is divided |
| Vice President's Function | Become President if current President is unable to carry out given duties |
| Important Presidential power | Command in Chief |
| "Advice and consent" of Congress is needed for | making treaties |
| "Advice and consent" of Congress is needed for | appointment of officials |
| Ground for impeachment | Treason |
| Ground for impeachment | Bribery |
| Ground for impeachment | High crimes and misdemeanors |
| Impeach | To formally charge |
| Article Four's topic | Division of sovereignty |
| Meaning of "full faith and credit" clause | States recognize other states' actions |
| Extradition | Offender sent back to state where offense took place |
| Provision for fugitive slaves | Returned to state from which they fled |
| Branch that regulates territories | Legislative Branch |
| Article Five's Topic | Amendments to the Constitution |
| Fraction needed for approval of an amendment | 2/3 (of HR and Congress) then 3/4 (of state legislatures) |
| # of states needed to ratify original Constitution | 9/13 |
| Rights protected by the First Amendment | Religion, speech, press, assembly |
| Right protected by the Second Amendment | Right to bear arms |
| Reason for Third Amendment | Quartering Act |
| Rights protected by the Fourth Amendment | Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures |
| Sixth Amendment Rights | Rights to speedy trial, public trial, impartial jury, to trial by jury, trial in state charging you, knowing what you are being tried with, to "confront" the witness testifying against you, to call your own witnesses, and the right to an attorney |
| Rights protected by the Eighth Amendment | To not have an excessive bail |
| Are the rights listed in the Constitution the only rights we have? | No |
| Amendment 9 | What Amendment answers that question? |
| Does the Constitution give us our rights? | No, it only protects the rights given to us by the Creator |