Unit 6 Vocabulary- A New Nation

change or addition to a law . The word usually refers to a change to the constitution of a government.

Any government that separates powers among different branches. In such a system, each branch has some power to check—to restrain or stop—actions by the other branches. This means that each branch can change or overturn some actions of the others.

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Checks and balances

• Judicial Branch

the branch of government charged with executing, enforcing, or carrying out the laws

• Executive Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Checks and balances

Answer explanation

The Executive branch is made up of the President, Vice President and the cabinet (which the President appoints). Remember the root of the word is "execute", meaning to execute, or carry out, the laws. That's why it's called the executive branch.

Having to do with judges, law courts, or their activities. The role of this branch is to interpret the laws.

• Executive Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Checks and balances

Answer explanation

The judicial branch "checks" the powers of the legislative and executive branches by interpreting the laws as "Constitutional" or "unconstitutional". They have the responsibility of "judging" the laws and whether they have been broken, essentially.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.

A law that allowed Congress to divide the Northwest Territory into smaller territories, as well as described how they were governed and the stages they had to go through to become states.

• Three-Fifths Compromise

• The Northwest Ordinance

• The Great Compromise

• The Articles of Confederation

Answer explanation

The NW Ordinance was one of the few successes of our earliest government under the Articles of Confederation. It allowed territories in the Ohio River Valley to be added as new states, to be treated equally, ensure public education, and OUTLAW SLAVERY!

an agreement made between northern and southern states that three out of every five slaves would be counted towards the population of any state.

Answer explanation

This seems like a victory for the southern, slave-holding states but this is actually a demand by the northern states that severely limited the power the southern stated could have in Congress.

an agreement among the original 13 states (of the United States of America) that served as its first constitution

• U.S. Constitution

• Checks and Balances

• Federal Government

• Articles of Confederation

a group of countries that, by treaty, have created an alliance to take on a common enemy while maintaining their independence.

Answer explanation

Because the states had a terrible experience under the powerful government of Britain, they chose to join in a confederacy (inspired by Benjamin Franklin who was inspired by the Iroquois) so they could maintain their independence as individual states.

an idea created by our founders that would join the states under a more powerful central government while maintaining the power of the individual states to govern themselves.

• Federalism

• Confederations

• Checks and balances

• National government

Answer explanation

Under this system, Americans live under two governments. They are governed by their state governments, who have some responsibilities, and the national government, which has different responsibilities. This idea also prevents either the state or national government from getting too powerful

The branch of government who is supposed to write, debate, and then pass bills into laws.

• Executive Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Checks and balances

Answer explanation

The legislative branch in this country is called "Congress". It is made up of two houses: The House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. They are supposed to pass bills that the President may or may not sign into law.