An Almost Painless Guide to the US Constitution

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

Persons who opposed the adoption of the Constitution between 1787-1788 who were in favor of adopting the Bill of Rights as well as strong state governments.

A two-house legislative body

A proposed law

The first ten amendments to the Constitution dealing mostly with civil rights

A system of overlapping the powers of the separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, to permit each branch to check (restrain) the actions of the others

Consists of a bicameral, or two-house, legislature whose role is to translate public will into public policy in the form of laws.

The office of the President and his cabinet who are responsible for assuring that the nations laws are faithfully executed

Form of government with governmental powers divided between a central government and several state or regional governments

Persons who supported the adoption of the Constitution in 1787-1788 and believed in a strong central government. Most became members of the Federalist Party after the Constitution became adopted.

One of the two law making bodies in Congress whose representation is based upon state population

a government's court system who is responsible for interpreting the constitution

the law-making branch of the government

One of the two law-making bodies in Congress where each state is represented by 2 senators

refusal by the President to sign a bill into law