Terms – Chapter VI – Terms – Chapter VI – Articles V – VIIArticles V – VII

Module VIModule VI

Terms – Articles V – VIITerms – Articles V – VIIChapter VIChapter VIModule VIModule VI

AmendmentAmendment: A formal change to the : A formal change to the Constitution.Constitution.

RatificationRatification: Formal approval. The Constitution : Formal approval. The Constitution requires that treaties be ratified by two-thirds of requires that treaties be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate and constitutional amendments by the Senate and constitutional amendments by three-fourths of the state legislatures or three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions. conventions.

RescissionRescission: The process of withdrawing : The process of withdrawing approval. The Constitution is silent as to whether approval. The Constitution is silent as to whether states can rescind proposed amendments that states can rescind proposed amendments that have not yet been approved by the necessary have not yet been approved by the necessary three-fourths majority of the states. three-fourths majority of the states.

Terms – Articles V – VIITerms – Articles V – VII

Supremacy ClauseSupremacy Clause: The provision in : The provision in Article VI of the Constitution Article VI of the Constitution (originating in the New Jersey Plan) (originating in the New Jersey Plan) that provides that the Constitution, that provides that the Constitution, U.S. laws, and treaties are the U.S. laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land.supreme law of the land.

Unamendable ProvisionUnamendable Provision: Parts of : Parts of the Constitution that can not be the Constitution that can not be amended. The only one today is equal amended. The only one today is equal state representation in the Senate.state representation in the Senate.

CasesCases

The Slaughterhouse CasesThe Slaughterhouse Cases (1873(1873): In rejecting the pleas of New ): In rejecting the pleas of New Orleans’ butchers who were required Orleans’ butchers who were required under state law to pursue their under state law to pursue their calling in specified abattoirs, the calling in specified abattoirs, the Court gave a very narrow reading to Court gave a very narrow reading to the privileges and immunities clause the privileges and immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. of the Fourteenth Amendment.

United States ConstitutionUnited States Constitution

Key Principles of American GovernmentKey Principles of American Government BicameralismBicameralism: Provides for the division of the legislative : Provides for the division of the legislative

branch into two houses or chambers.branch into two houses or chambers.

Civilian Control of the Military: Civilian Control of the Military: Designating the Designating the president Commander and Chief over the U.S. armed president Commander and Chief over the U.S. armed forces, assures civilian control over the military. Declaration forces, assures civilian control over the military. Declaration of War by the Congress only assures checks and balances of War by the Congress only assures checks and balances between branches of the civilian government.between branches of the civilian government.

FederalismFederalism: A governmental system in which power is : A governmental system in which power is divided between state and national authorities. In such divided between state and national authorities. In such systems, powers are almost always delineated by a written systems, powers are almost always delineated by a written constitution, and both state and national governments have constitution, and both state and national governments have powers—as, for example, through taxation—to operate powers—as, for example, through taxation—to operate directly upon individual citizensdirectly upon individual citizens

Key Principles of American Key Principles of American

GovernmentGovernment

Religious ToleranceReligious Tolerance: Principle from the : Principle from the Enlightenment found in Article VI and the Enlightenment found in Article VI and the 1st amendment.1st amendment.

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers: The principle of : The principle of dividing government authority among dividing government authority among different branches of government, in the different branches of government, in the United States, the legislative, executive, United States, the legislative, executive, and judicial. and judicial.