Vocabulary

Vocabulary for Chapter 4

Chapter Sections

4.1 – Introduction

4.2 – Elements of the Constitution

• The Preamble Sets the Purpose
• The Articles Establish Our National Government
• Article I Establishes the Legislative Branch
• Article II Establishes the Executive Branch
• Article III Establishes the Judicial Branch
• Article IV Concerns Relations Among the States
• Article V Describes the Amendment Process
• Article VI Makes the Constitution the Supreme Law of the Land
• Article VII Explains the Ratification Process

4.3 – Amending the Constitution

• The Amendment Process Is Not Easy
• The First Ten Amendments: The Bill of Rights
• Two Early Amendments Strengthened the New Federal Government
• Three Civil War-Era Amendments Extended Rights to African Americans
• Four Progressive-Era Amendments Dealt with Social and Political Reforms
• Four Twentieth-Century Amendments Addressed Governance
• Three Civil Rights- Era Amendments Extended Voting Rights

4.4 – Guiding Principles of the Constitution

• Establishing a Limited Government
• Popular Sovereignty
• The Rule of Law
• Separation of Powers – Checks and Balances
• Federalism
• An Independent Judiciary
• Individual Rights

4.5 – Interpreting the Constitution

• The Process of Judicial Interpretation
• Strict Construction: Looking at the Text
• Loose Construction: Adapting the Constitution to Today
• Marbury v. Madison: Establishing Judicial Review
• McCulloch v. Maryland: Making the Constitution the Supreme Law of the Land
• United States v. Nixon: Reaffirming the Rule of Law
• Goss v. Lopez: Extending the Individual Rights of Students to Include Due Process

Summary

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