Constitution Vocabulary

Vocab related to the roots of our government…

Absolute monarch  A ruler with complete authority over the government and people  Related term: monarchy – gov’t ruled by king/queen

divine right  The belief that a ruler’s authority come directly from God

Natural rights  Rights that belong to every human from birth

evident  Obvious, clear, easy to understand

direct democracy  System of gov’t in which ordinary citizens have the power to govern

republic  System of gov’t in which the people choose representatives to govern them  Root = publica (of the people)

representative government  Political system in which voters elect others to make laws  Who represents you??

enlightened  To be freed from the superstitions and ignorance of the Middle Ages and embrace reason and experience

town meeting  Meeting in colonial New England during which settlers discussed and voted on issues

grievance  A formal complaint

Vocab related to our constitution…

constitution  A document which sets out the law and principles of government  Adjective: constitutional

preamble  An introduction to an official document

ratify  To approve

Compromise  An agreement in which each side gives up part of what it wants to end a disagreement

Executive  In government, the person who sees that laws are carried out (president)

legislature  The part of a government that makes laws

Separation of powers  The principle by which the powers of the gov’t are divided among separate branches to prevent corruption and tyranny

Vocab related to the roots of our Bill of Rights…

bill of rights  A written list of freedoms that a gov’t promises to protect  Related term – bill (piece of paper upon which some thing important is written!)

amendment  A revision or addition to a bill, a law, or a constitution

Habeas corpus TTTThe right not to be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime

jury  Panel of citizens who have the power to make judgments in a trial

Freedom of the press  The right of newspapers and other public media to publish articles that they believe to be accurate

libel  The publishing of statements that damage a person’s reputation   Adjective form: libelous

violate  To break a rule or law

Alliance  an agreement between countries to support each other