Government Vocabulary

First ten amendments of the US Constitution

• Bill of Rights

• Amendment

• Checks and Balances

A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law.

• federalism

• amendment

• compromise

Powers belonging only to the federal government.

• Concurrent Powers

• Reserved Powers

• Enumerated Powers

People who against ratification of the Constitution and wanted a weaker federal government

• Antifederalist

• Congress

• Patriots

Plan for the US national government ratified in 1781. It was too weak and had to be replaced.

• Constitution

• Congress

• Articles of Confederation

A formal plan of government

• Articles of Confederation

• Impeachment

• constitution

The ability of each branch of government to exercise checks, or controls over the other branches.

• Checks and Balances

• compromise

• federalism

Settlement of differences in which each side gives up something it wants.

• Congress

• compromise

• Bill of Rights

Powers shared by the states and the federal government.

• Executive

• Concurrent

• Reserved

The lawmaking branch of government, which has two bodies-the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• Articles of Confederation

• Judicial

• Congress