abridge
v. to deprive; to cut off

aliens
n. owing political allegiance to another country or government; foreign: alien residents

ameliorate
v. To make better

amenable
adj. responsive to advice, authority, or suggestion

amendment
n. an alteration or addition, as to a bill

annex
n. to append or attach especially to a larger or more significant thing.

anti-federalist
An opponent of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

apportionment
n. Allotment of direct taxes on the basis of state population

appropriate
v. to set apart for a specific use

assimilate
v. To absorb (immigrants or a culturally distinct group) into the prevailing culture

Associate Justice
n. a member of the U.S. Supreme Court appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. There are eight Associate Justices on the Supreme Court. They serve for life or until voluntary retirement or removal after being convicted after impeachment.

assume
v. to take upon oneself; to undertake the duties of (an office)

autonomy
n. a self-governing state, community, or group

bi-cameral legislature
n. Composed of or based on two legislative chambers or branches

bimetallism
n. The use of a monetary standard consisting of two metals, especially gold and silver, in a fixed ratio of value

capital punishment
n. The penalty of death for the commission of a crime

carpetbaggers
n. A Northerner who went to the South after the Civil War for political or financial advantage.

census
n. An official, usually periodic enumeration of a population, often including the collection of related demographic information

circumvented
v. To avoid or get around by artful maneuvering

commissions
n. the act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty.

commodity
n. Something useful that can be turned to commercial or other advantage

concurrent
adj. Operating or acting in conjunction with another

conglomerates
n. A corporation made up of a number of different companies that operate in diversified fields

construed
v. to interpret or explain the meaning of

corporal punishment
n. the infliction of physical injury on someone convicted of committing a crime

corporate charter
n. A charter granted to a business or group of private citizens

coup
n. a brilliantly executed stratagem; a triumph

demonitized
v. To stop using (a metal) as a monetary standard

depreciate
v. To decrease in value

devolve
v. to pass on or delegate to another

direct tax
n. A tax exacted directly from the taxpayer

directorate
n. A board of directors, as of a corporation

disenfranchisement
n. Loss of the right to vote and hold office

discharge
v. to release, as from confinement, care, or duty

duly
adv. in a proper manner

encroachment
adv. interference; removal of rights

enumeration
v. To count off or name one by one; list

ex post facto
adj. After the fact

federalist
n. a member of a former political party in the US that favored a strong centralized federal government

filipinization
n. Transferring control of the Philippine government from Americans to Filipinos (not actually a word, just a term Sharon made up)

frugality
adj. practicing the expenditure of money or the use of material resources

implicit
adj. Implied or understood though not directly expressed: an implicit agreement not to raise the touchy subject

incurred
v. to acquire or come into, usually something undesirable

indirect tax
n. A tax levied on goods or services rather than on persons or organizations

initiative
n. the power or right to introduce a new legislative measure or the right or procedure by which citizens can propose a law by petition and insure its submission to the electorate

injunction
n. A command, an order

inquisition
n. An investigation that violates the privacy or rights of individuals

insurrection
n. the act or an instance of open revolt against civil authority or a constituted government

internment
n. The act of confining, especially in wartime

interstate
adj. Involving, existing between, or connecting two or more states

intrastate
adj. Relating to or existing within the boundaries of a state

jurisdiction
n. The right and power to interpret and apply the law

legislation
n. the act of making or enacting law

libelous
n. A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation. The act of presenting such material to the public.

liege
n. a loyal subject to a monarch

magistrate
n. a civil officer with the power to administrate and enforce law.

mandamus
n. A writ issued by a superior court ordering a public official or body or a lower court to perform a specified duty

militarization
n. the act of equipping or training for war

NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

nativist
n. A sociopolitical policy, especially in the United States in the 19th century, favoring the interests of established inhabitants over those of immigrants

nullified
v. Made void

ordinance
n. an authoritative command or order

patronage
n. The support or encouragement of a patron, as for an institution or cause

pocket-veto
n. The indirect veto of a bill received by the President within ten days of the adjournment of Congress, effected by retaining the bill unsigned until Congress adjourns

popular sovereignty
n. a pre-Civil War doctrine asserting the right of the people living in a newly organized territory to decide by vote of their territorial legislature whether or not slavery would be permitted there

preamble
n. a preliminary statement or introduction in a formal document to explain its purpose

pro tempore
n. for the time being; temporarily

provincial court
n. The court that deals with the troubles of one particular province.

quorum
n. the minimal number of officers and member of a committee or organization, usually a majority, who must be present for valid transaction of business.

ratify
v. to approve and give formal sanction to; confirm

re-allotment
n. a new apportionment (especially a re-allotment of US congressional seats based on census results)

reapportionment
n. the periodic reallotment of U.S. congressional seats according to changes in the census figures as required by the Constitution

reclamation
n. A restoration, as to productivity, usefulness, or morality

regime
n. a government in power; administration: suffered under the new regime

repeal
v. To remove

requisite
adj. Required; essential

rescind
v. to make void; repeal; annul

restitution
n. The act of restoring to the rightful owner something that has been taken away, lost, or surrendered.

slander
n. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation

sovereignty
n. complete independence and self-government

statute
n. a law enacted by a legislature.

subpoena
n. a writ to summon witnesses or evidence before court
v. to serve with a subpoena

Supreme Court of the United States
n. the top court of the U.S. judicial system comprising of eight Associate Justices and one Chief Justice. The provisions for the Supreme Court is established in Article III of the Constitution. The Supreme Court is primarily an appeals courts, taking appeals from the federal and state courts.

tariff
n. a list or system of duties imposed by a government on imported or exported goods

unanimous decision
n. All justices agreed on the decision

unicameral legislature
n. Having or consisting of a single legislative chamber.

writ of certiorari
n. a writ that commands judges of inferior courts to return records or certify proceedings for review by a higher court. This is commonly used in appeals to the Supreme Court