1. Constitution Vocabulary

2. Vocab related to the roots of our government…

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

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

5. Natural rights  Rights that belong to every human from birth

6. evident  Obvious, clear, easy to understand

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

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

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

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

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

12. grievance  A formal complaint

13. Vocab related to our constitution…

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

15. preamble  An introduction to an official document

16. ratify  To approve

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

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

19. legislature  The part of a government that makes laws

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

21. Vocab related to the roots of our Bill of Rights…

22. 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!)

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

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

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

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

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

28. violate  To break a rule or law

29. Alliance  an agreement between countries to support each other