Constitution Vocabulary

This was the first plan of government that gave too much power to the states. It divided the nation.

• Constitution

• Articles of Confederation

• Preamble

• amendment

The written plan of government developed in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention. We still use this plan today.

• Constitution

• Articles of Confederation

• preamble

• amendment

The _________ are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

• amendments

• Articles of Confederation

• The Bill of Rights

• The Constitution

A change or an addition to the Constitution is called an

The __________ is the system of government that is shared between the shared government and state government.

• federal system

• representative democracy

• checks and balances

• Bill of Rights

The system of government in which citizens vote on representatives to speak for them.

• federal system

• representative democracy

• checks and balances

• Articles of Confederation

The establishment of two houses of Congress which helped settle arguments of both big and small states.

• Constitution

• Great Compromise

• federal system

• Checks and Balances

This branch of government carries out the laws.

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

Each branch of government is balanced by power of the other branches.

• Federal System

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Checks and Balances

This branch contains two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. They are the lawmakers.

• Executive Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch