| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Government | Biggest threat to people during 1776 |
| People | Biggest threat to people during 1787 |
| Articles of Confederation | Government before the Constitution |
| 1787 | Year the Constitution was written |
| Independence Hall, Philadelphia | Place where the Constitution was written |
| Make laws | Legislative branch's job |
| Senate and House of Representatives | Houses in the legislative branch |
| Two houses | Meaning of bicameral |
| Congress | Legislature in legislative branch |
| Each state sends 2 representatives | New Jersey Plan |
| States send representatives based off population | Virginia Plan |
| Bicameral congress | Great Compromise |
| 535 | Total number of representatives in congress |
| 100 | Number of representatives in Senate |
| 435 | Number of representatives in House of Representatives |
| 3 | Minimum number of representatives in congress per state |
| Congress can stretch their power if it's necessary and proper | Meaning of Elastic Clause |
| Laws created after the fact | Meaning of ex post facto laws |
| Laws saying someone is guilty | Meaning of bills of attainder |
| Idea that people must be arrested for a reason and have the right of knowing why they're arrested | Meaning of Writ of Habeas Corpus |
| Bill | What a law starts as |
| House of Representatives | House that bills usually start in |
| Discuss in committee | First step in a bill becoming a law |
| Full house debate | Second step in a bill becoming a law |
| If quorum is present, vote | Third step in a bill becoming a law |
| 51% | Percent of votes needed for a bill to pass one house |
| It passes | What happens if a bill was held and congress is in session |
| Overriding the veto | What it's called when congress vetoes the President's veto |
| 2/3 | Fraction of support needed from each house to override a veto |
| Enforce laws | Executive branch's job |
| President, Vice President, and Cabinet | Three parts/positions that make up the executive branch |
| Vice President | Who is leader of senate? |
| People who would take over if President couldn't serve | Meaning of Line of Succession |
| President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House | First three people in Line of Succession |
| Number of representatives in congress | Number of electoral votes per state is the same as |
| 270 | Number of electoral votes needed to win |
| 538 | Total number of electoral votes |
| Interpret laws | Judicial branch's job |
| Supreme Court | Highest court in America |
| Original jurisdiction | When cases start at the Supreme Court |
| 9 | Number of Supreme Court Justices |
| Appeal | When one side is unhappy with the ruling of a case and tries to get the case retried |
| Double jeopardy | Having the exact same trial twice (not appeal) |
| 2 | Number of witnesses necessary for a treason trial |
| Treason | Act of aiding enemies |
| Extradition | When states send criminals who committed a crime in one state and are trying to hide in another back |
| Proposal and ratification | Two steps in amending the constitution |
| 2/3 | Support necessary to propose an amendment |
| 3/4 | States necessary to ratify an amendment |
| Constitution is the supreme law of the land | Meaning of supremacy clause |
| To adopt or accept | Meaning of ratify |
| Because the Constitution failed | Why the Bill of Rights was necessary |
| Bill of Rights | What the First Ten Amendments are called |
| Amendment 1 | Freedom of speech, press, religion, right to petition the government, and right to peacefully assemble |
| Amendment 2 | Right to bear arms |
| Amendment 3 | The government may not house soldiers in private homes without consent of the owner |
| Amendment 4 | Protection from unreasonable search and seizure |
| Amendment 5 | Cannot be forced to testify against oneself, no double jeopardy |
| Amendment 6 | The right to a speedy trial and attorney |
| Amendment 7 | The right to trial by jury in civil cases |
| Amendment 8 | No cruel and unusual punishment, no excessive bail or fines |
| Amendment 9 | Certain rights not mentioned in the Constitution may still be protected |
| Amendment 10 | Powers not specifically given to congress (or prohibited the states) belong to the states |
| Balance between state and federal power | Federalism |
| no one group has too much power | Separation of Powers |
| each branch has control over other branches, but is also controlled | Checks and Balances |
| 35 | Age Requirement for President |
| 30 | Age Requirement for Senator |
| 25 | Age Requirement for Representative in House of Representatives |
| 4 years | Term Length for President |
| 6 years | Term Length for Senator |
| 2 years | Term Length for Representative in House of Representatives |
| None | Age Requirement for Justice |
| Life | Term Length for Justice |
| 2 | Term Limit for President |
| None | Term Limit for Senator |
| None | Term Limit for Representative in House of Representatives |
| 9 years | Resident requirement for Senator |
| 7 years | Resident requirement for Representative in House of Representatives |
| 14 years | Resident requirement for President |
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