1.
administration: the president and his political appointees, who are responsible for directing the executive branch of government
2.
amendment: a change in, or addition to, a constitution or law
3.
Anti-Federalist: Opposed to a strong central government; saw undemocratic tendencies in the Constitution and insisted on the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. Included Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and Patrick Henry.
4.
bicameral legislation: a legislature with two houses, usually "lower" and "upper".
5.
cabinet: persons appointed by the President to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers
6.
clause: a separate article or sentence or phrase in a law or contract.
7.
confederation: a loose association of states
8.
constitution: the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
9.
delegate: a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular, an elected representative sent to a committee or convention
10.
enumerated powers: those powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution.
11.
executive branch: the branch of government, headed by the president, that carries out the nation's laws and policies
12.
faction: a group with like-minded interests; interest-groups. Madison was particularly wary of them.
13.
federal: having to do with the national government, or a system of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities
14.
Federalist: supporters of the constitution during the debate over its ratification; favored a strong national government
15.
Framer: one of the original men who wrote and/or discussed and debated the
American Constitution; they were said to have "framed" the Constitution.
16.
judicial branch: the branch of government, including the federal court system, that interprets the nation's laws
17.
legislative branch: the branch of government that makes laws
18.
necessary and proper clause: that part of the Constitution that states that the Congress has the power to make all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out those powers already listed in the Constitution (those specific, "enumerated powers.")
19.
override: to use one's authority to reject or cancel a decision, vote or law.
20.
popular sovereignty: the source for governmental authority; the people.
21.
ratify: to approve, give formal approval to, confirm
22.
repeal: the act of revoking (taking back) or annulling (voiding) a law or
government act.
23.
states' rights: belief that because the states created the United States, individual states have the power to nullify federal laws
24.
status quo: the existing state of affairs; the way things are right now.
25.
suffrage: the right to vote
26.
veto: vote against