Name _______________________________________ Date _________________________
SS Period ______________
Government and Constitution
Vocabulary Part 1: Match the correct vocabulary words to the definitions.
Column A
Column B
________ 1. Federalists
A. an agreement that created a central government
among the 13 original states with very little power
_________2. Anti-Federalists
B. a group of people who preferred a small central
government with limited power
_________3. Preamble
C. a formal change to a written document
_________4. Shay’s Rebellion
D. a detailed written plan for government; a list of
basic laws that support a government
_________5. Articles of Confederation
E. Movement led by Daniel Shays and New England
farmers desperate to be paid for their service in
the Revolutionary War
_________ 6. Amendment
F. branch of government that makes laws and
includes Congress
_________7. Executive Branch
G. the national legislative body of the U.S.,
consisting of the Senate and the House of
Representatives
_________8. Legislative Branch
H. branch of government that interprets the laws
and includes judges
_________9. Judicial Branch
I. branch of government that enforces the laws
led by the President
_________10. Federal Government
J. First 10 amendments that guaranteed citizens
their rights
__________11. Bill of Rights
K. a government with strong central power
__________12. Congress
L. Central government that unites all of the smaller
governments
_________ 13. Constitution
M. opening statement to the United States
Constitution
Vocabulary Part 1: Match the correct vocabulary words to the definitions.
Column A
Column B
K
1. Federalists
A. an agreement that created a central government
among the 13 original states with very little power
B
2. Anti-Federalists
B. a group of people who preferred a small central
government with limited power
M
3. Preamble
C. a formal change to a written document
E
4. Shay’s Rebellion
D. a detailed written plan for government; a list of
basic laws that support a government, LAW of the
land
A
5. Articles of Confederation
E. Movement led by Daniel Shays and New England
farmers desperate to be paid for their service in
the Revolutionary War
C
6. Amendment
F. branch of government that makes laws and
includes Congress
I
7. Executive Branch
G. the national legislative body of the U.S.,
consisting of the Senate and the House of
Representatives
F
8. Legislative Branch
H. branch of government that interprets the laws
and includes judges
H
9. Judicial Branch
I. branch of government that enforces the laws
led by the President
L
10. Federal Government
J. First 10 amendments that guaranteed citizens
their rights
J
11. Bill of Rights
K. a group of people who favored a government
with strong central power
G
12. Congress
L. Central government that unites all of the smaller
governments
D
13. Constitution
M. opening statement to the United States
Constitution
Vocabulary Part 2. Complete the following sentences by selecting the vocabulary word that best fits.
You may need to change the form of the word to fit the sentence.
1. Under the ______________________________________, America was led by a central
government that had very little power.
2. Anti-Federalists and Federalists came to a compromise when they added the
__________________________________ or first ten amendments to the Constitution
which guaranteed rights for citizens.
3. ________________________________ wanted a small central government and believed
local government best understood what citizens needed and would best protect citizens’
freedom.
4. _______________________________ wanted a strong central government since it could
best represent the nation to other countries.
5. In 1786, a New England farmer led an armed uprising called _________________________
protesting against the state tax collectors.
6. Judge Sonia Sotomayor is a member of the ________________ branch; as a member of the
Supreme Court, she interprets the laws.
7. Congressman Smith, a member of the ____________________ branch, proposed or made a
new law about sidewalks.
8. President Obama, as part of the _____________________ branch, ensures laws are being
enforced correctly.
9. After the Articles of Confederation failed, the founders felt it was necessary to devise a
new plan of government known as the __________________________________.
10. Since we live in a world with constant change, it is important to be able to make changes or
_________________________________ to the Constitution.
11. The __________________________introduces why the Constitution was written.
12. Recently, ________________________ could not come to agreements about our nation’s
budget which led to a government shutdown.
13. The ________________________________ runs our country and contains strong central
powers.