Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
abolish
to put an end to
amendment
a change in or addition to a document
Grade 5 Social Studies
1
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
Articles of
Confederation
the first constitution of the
United States
authority
the right to use power to control the
behaviors of others
Grade 5 Social Studies
2
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
bill
a proposed law given to the
legislature for approval
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution. It
lists some basic rights of the people that the
federal government may not interfere
with and must protect.
Grade 5 Social Studies
3
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
branches of
government
legislative, executive, and judicial branches
of government
checks and
balances
the sharing and balancing of power among
different branches of government so no one
branch can completely control the others
Grade 5 Social Studies
4
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
citizen
a person who is a member of a town,
city, state, or country
civic virtue
putting the common good above
individual interests
Grade 5 Social Studies
5
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
common defense
defending or protecting the
community as a whole
common good
what is best for the community
as a whole
Grade 5 Social Studies
6
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
compromise
a way to settle conflict by all sides
agreeing to give up part of what
they want
Congress
the national legislature of the U.S.
Congress has two houses: the Senate and
the House of Representatives
Grade 5 Social Studies
7
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
consent
agree to obey the laws and the
government
constitutional
government
A government in which the powers of the
ruler or rulers are limited by a constitution.
The rulers must obey the constitution.
Grade 5 Social Studies
8
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
convention
a formal assembly or meeting
delegate
(n) the person picked to act for you or
represent you at a meeting or convention; (v)
entrust someone to represent your
interests
Grade 5 Social Studies
9
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
discrimination
unfair treatment of people because
of such things as race, religion,
or gender
domestic
tranquility
a peaceful situation within our country
Grade 5 Social Studies
10
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
due process
the requirement that procedures used
by government in gathering information
and making decisions be reasonable
and fair
equal protection
all individuals or groups of people are
treated equally under the law, unless there
is a good and fair reason for not doing so
Grade 5 Social Studies
11
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
executive branch
the branch of government that
enforces the laws made by the
legislative branch
Founders
the people who were important in the
establishment of the United States
Grade 5 Social Studies
12
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
Framers
the delegates to the Philadelphia
Convention of 1787
general welfare
the good of all the people
Grade 5 Social Studies
13
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
House of
Representatives
one house of Congress in which the number of
representatives from each state is based on
the number of people living in that state
judicial branch
the branch of government that
makes the laws
Grade 5 Social Studies
14
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
justice
the act of being fair and honest
legislative branch
the branch of government that
makes the laws
Grade 5 Social Studies
15
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
libel
a false publication, as in writing,
signs, or pictures, that damages a
person’s reputation
limited power
powers with restrictions
or boundaries
Grade 5 Social Studies
16
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
literacy tests
tests given to people to prove they are able to
read and write. These tests were used in the
South to keep African Americans from voting
majority
more than half
Grade 5 Social Studies
17
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
national anthem
a song of praise that is recognized as
the official song of that country
natural rights
such basic rights as those to life,
liberty, and property
Grade 5 Social Studies
18
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
ordain
to decree and enact
persecute
to cause suffering to a person or
group because of such thins as their
beliefs, gender, or race
Grade 5 Social Studies
19
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
poll taxes
taxes that voters in many states had
to pay before they could vote
posterity
future generations
Grade 5 Social Studies
20
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
powers of
government
the authority or official capacity to
exercise control
Preamble
the introduction to the Constitution. It states
that the people establish the government and
lists the purposes of the government.
Grade 5 Social Studies
21
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
President
the elected head of the executive
branch of government
principles
the democratic ideas and values in American government including
privacy, authority, power, justice/fairness, responsibility,patriotism,
tolerance, and respect for the rights of others
Grade 5 Social Studies
22
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
ratify
to formally approve
responsibilities
the duties that citizens have
Grade 5 Social Studies
23
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
representative
an elected member of a lawmaking body
in a government acting for the people in
a certain area
republican
government
a government in which power is held by the
people who elect representatives to run the
government for the common good
Grade 5 Social Studies
24
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
rights
the freedoms granted to American
citizens that allow them to make
their own choices
Senate
one house of Congress. Each state
has two members in the Senate.
Grade 5 Social Studies
25
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
slavery
the practice of holding people against
their will and making them carry
out orders
testify
give information or evidence, as at a
hearing or trial
Grade 5 Social Studies
26
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards
Grade 5 Unit 3 Vocabulary Cards
unlimited power
powers having no restrictions
or controls
Grade 5 Social Studies
27
References: Unit 3 Large Vocabulary Cards