U.S. Constitution Flashcards

Grade 5 · Social Studies · Flashcards

Key vocabulary and concepts from America's most important governing document.

Flashcards

U.S. Constitution: The supreme law of the United States, written in 1787 and ratified in 1788; it sets up the structure of the national government.
Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution, added in 1791 to protect individual freedoms.
Legislative Branch: Congress (Senate and House of Representatives); the branch that writes and passes laws.
Executive Branch: The President, Vice President, and Cabinet; the branch that enforces laws.
Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court and lower federal courts; the branch that interprets laws and the Constitution.
Separation of powers: The Constitutional principle of dividing government into three branches to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful.
Checks and balances: A system where each branch of government can limit or check the power of the other two branches.
Amendment: An official addition or change to the Constitution; 27 amendments have been ratified.
1st Amendment: Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government.
Articles of Confederation: The first governing document of the United States (1781–1789); replaced by the Constitution because it created a too-weak national government.