The Constitution is the highest law in the United States. All other laws come from the Constitution. It says how the government works. It creates the Presidency. It creates the Congress. It creates the Supreme Court. Each state also has a constitution. The constitutions of the states are their highest law for that state — but the United States Constitution is higher.
The Constitution can be changed. The Constitution is changed by an "amendment." Among the amendments is a list of the rights of the people. By listing these rights, they are made special. It is illegal for the government to violate those rights. As of 2006, there are 27 amendments. Not all of them involve rights, but many do. The first ten amendments are special. They are called the Bill of Rights.
| 225659717 | Constitution | Written Laws to replace failed Articles of Confederation | |
| 225659718 | Preamble | "We the People" The opening section of the Constitution that explains the purpose of the document | |
| 225659719 | Democracy | A form of government where the people are the source of power | |
| 225719639 | Limited Government | Certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens | |
| 225659720 | Representative Government | System in which voters elect representatives to make laws for them | |
| 225659721 | Federalism | System where power is shared between FEDERAL and STATE governments | |
| 225659722 | Separation of Powers | Power is split up in to 3 Branches (Legislative, Executive and Judicial) | |
| 225659723 | Checks and Balances | Each Branch has the power to "check" or block a power of another branch | |
| 225659724 | Legislative Branch | Makes the LAWS (Congress) | |
| 225659725 | Executive Branch | ENFORCES the Laws. Headed by the President | |
| 225659726 | Judicial Branch | INTERPRETS the Laws (Courts and Judges) | |
| 225659727 | VETO | A vote that blocks a decision. How the President CHECKS Congress. | |
| 225659728 | Federalist | Wanted the new Constitution, Supporters of the Constitution | |
| 225659729 | Anti-Federalist | Against the new Constitution | |
| 225659730 | Delegated Powers | Power the Federal Government has- War, Print Money | |
| 225659731 | Reserved Powers | Power the states have- Licenses, Police, Firemen | |
| 225659732 | Concurrent Powers | Powers both States and Federal government have. Taxes, crimes, Punishments |
