Constitution vocabulary: 17 terms with definitions

The opening of the Constitution, beginning "We the People," which states its purposes.

A change or addition to the Constitution; there are 27.

The lawmaking branch of the federal government: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The part of Congress with two senators from each state, 100 in all.

The branch of government that makes the laws: Congress.

The branch that carries out the laws, led by the President.

The branch that decides what the laws mean: the Supreme Court and the other federal courts.

The President's power to reject a bill passed by Congress; Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses.

The sharing of power between the national government and the state governments.

To approve formally; nine of the thirteen states had to ratify the Constitution before it could take effect, and the ninth did so in 1788.

A proposed law that Congress debates and votes on.

The system that lets each branch of government limit the power of the other two.

The electors chosen in each state who formally elect the President; a candidate needs 270 of the 538 votes.

A member of a country, with rights such as voting and duties such as obeying its laws.

Government by the people, who rule by voting, directly or through representatives they elect.

A country whose citizens elect representatives to make the laws, with no king or queen.

The right to vote; the 19th Amendment gave women suffrage in 1920.