Amendments - Additions to the United States Constitution

1. Amendments- Additions to the United States Constitution • ChecksandBalances- Each branch of the government has duties that restrain the power of the other two branches • Defamation- False words that damage a person’s good name, character or reputation • DueProcess-The Principle stating that the government must act fairly and obey the rules of law • Enumerated Powers- The powers of the federal government specifically mentioned in the Constitution • Expressed Powers- Congressional powers specifically mentioned in the Constitution • Federalism- System in which the power is divided between the states and the national government • Framers- Writers of the Constitution • Judicial Review- A principle that gives the courts the power to rule on the constitutionality of a law or action of local, state or national government • Libel- Written defamatory speech • Popular Sovereignty- Source of the national government’s power comes from the people of the nation • Sedition Speech- Any type of speech that encourages the overthrow of the government or attempts to disrupt • Separation of Powers- Each branch of the government is given its own duties and responsibilities • Slander- Spoken defamatory speech • Supremacy Clause- A clause in Article VI that declares the Constitution , acts of Congress and treaties are the “supreme law of the land”