Constitution
Definition
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land that outlines how the government should be organized and defines its powers and duties.
Analogy
Consider your school handbook as your mini-constitution. It lays out all rules, regulations, rights, and responsibilities for students, teachers, administrators alike - just like how our Constitution does for citizens and branches of our federal government.
Related terms
Amendment Process: The method by which changes or additions are made to the Constitution. Like updating an app on your phone with new features or bug fixes.
Federalism: A system where power is divided between national and state governments. Imagine if you shared control over your playlist with your friend - some songs you choose (federal), some songs they choose (state).
Judicial Review: The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional. It's like a teacher grading your paper and marking some answers as incorrect.
"Constitution" appears in:
Study guides (5)
Practice Questions (20+)
- What does Brutus No. 1 argue regarding the Constitution's checks and balances?
- How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution for it to be established?
- What were the Anti-Federalist's concerns regarding the Constitution?
- Who signed the Constitution in 1787?
- What is the role of the Constitution in American government?
- How does the Constitution balance the powers between the federal government and the states to promote individual liberty and regional diversity?
- What is the role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution and the law?
- Why did some Founding Fathers view a standing army as problematic under the new Constitution after experiencing challenges under the Articles?
- What systemic issues under the Articles led to its replacement by the Constitution?
- How could the development of American political systems have been different if the Articles of Confederation hadn't been replaced by the Constitution?
- What was a common concern among Anti-Federalists regarding the new Constitution?
- What organization was formed as an alliance of independent states before being replaced by our current constitution?
- Which amendment to the Constitution reserves powers not delegated to the Federal government to the states?
- Which one is not a formal power given to US Presidents under Article II of Constitution?
- What is one method Presidents have used to expand their power beyond what is explicitly stated in the Constitution?
- Why has presidential use of executive orders increased over time despite no explicit grant from the Constitution?
- How might American civil liberties be different today if the Supreme Court had consistently interpreted the Constitution strictly rather than broadly?
- What term describes when a judge interprets Constitution based on perceived intent of its authors?
- How does the modern bureaucratic oversight resemble the system of checks and balances originally outlined in the Constitution?
- Which doctrine calls for judicial rulings based on strictly interpreting the Constitution as its framers intended?
Resources
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