Adjournment

To suspend until a later stated time.
 

Appellate - (Court of Appeals)

having power to review decisions of lower courts
 

Apportionment

to distribute proportionately
In the context of the Constitution, apportionment means that each state gets an number appropriate to its population.

For example, Representatives are apportioned among the states, with the most populous getting the greater share. Direct taxes (of which there are none today) were to be charged to the states in this manner as well.
 

Attainder

The loss of all civil rights by a person sentenced for a serious crime.

In the context of the Constitution, a Bill of Attainder is meant to mean a bill that has an negative effect on a single person or group (for example, a fine or term of imprisonment).
 

Concurrence

To have the same opinion; agree
 

Bill of Credit

A bill of credit is some sort of paper medium by which value is exchanged between the government and individuals.

Money is a bill of credit, but a bill of credit need not be money. An interest-bearing certificate that was issued by Missouri, and usable in the payment of taxes, was thus ruled to be an unconstitutional bill of credit.
 

Commerce-  trade

 

Compensation-  salary

 

Congressional Immunity-

immunity granted to members of Congress that states that members may not:

  be arrested going to or from sessions, and

  may not be sued for anything said during a session.

Congressional Record-

Public record of all Congress sessions
 

Deprive

To take something away from; divest. 2. To keep from the possession of something.
 

Domestic Tranquillity

One of the concerns of the Framers was that the government prior to that under the Constitution was unable, by force or persuasion, to quell rebellion or quarrels amongst the states. The government watched in horror as Shay's Rebellion transpired just before the Convention, and some states had very nearly gone to war with each other over territory (such as between Pennsylvania and Connecticut over Wilkes-Barre). One of the main goals of the Convention, then, was to ensure the federal government had powers to squash rebellion and to smooth tensions between states.
 

Double Jeopardy

Double jeopardy is what would happen is someone were to be charged with a crime and be found innocent, and then be charged with that crime a second time. For example, if you are charged with stealing a car, and a jury finds you innocent, you cannot be charged with that specific crime again.

Double jeopardy is a term used in law. Double jeopardy is forbidden by the Constitution.
 

Emolument

the product (as salary or fees) of an employment Source
 

Enumerate

to determine the number of
 

Elastic Clause-

States that Congress may do anything that is "Necessary and Proper to carry out its duties
 

Extradition-

Returning a criminal to the state where the crime was committed.
 

Excise

a tax on the manufacture, sale, or consumption of goods within a country
 

Ex post facto

Formulated, enacted, or operating retroactively. [from what is done afterwards]
 

Full Faith and Credit

legal proceedings and public acts in one state are to be considered valid in every other state.
 

Habeas Corpus

A writ issued to bring a party before a court to prevent unlawful restraint. [you should have the body]

The basic premise behind habeas corpus is that you cannot be held against your will without just cause. To put it another way, you cannot be jailed if there are no charges against you. If you are being held, and you demand it, the courts must issue a writ or habeas corpus, which forces those holding you to answer as to why. If there is no good or compelling reason, the court must set you free. It is important to note that of all the civil liberties we take for granted today as a part of the Bill of Rights, the importance of habeas corpus is illustrated by the fact that it was the sole liberty thought important enough to be included in the original text of the Constitution.
 

Impartial

Not partial or biased; unprejudiced
 

Impeachment

proceeding by a legislature for the removal from office of a public official charged with misconduct in office.

Impeachment comprises both the act of formulating the accusation and the resulting trial of the charges; it is frequently but erroneously taken to mean only the removal from office of an accused public official. An impeachment trial may result in either an acquittal or in a verdict of guilty. In the latter case the impeached official is removed from office; if the charges warrant such action, the official is also remanded to the proper authorities for trial before a court.
 

Impost

tax, duty
 

Infringe

 violate, transgress 2: encroach, trespass

In the context of the Constitution, phrases like "shall not be infringed," "shall make no law," and "shall not be violated" sound pretty unbendable, but the Supreme Court has ruled that some law can, in fact, encroach on these phrases.

For example, though there is freedom of speech, you cannot slander someone; though you can own a pistol, you cannot own a nuclear weapon.
 

Jurisdiction

the power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law : the limits or territory within which authority may be exercised
 

Letter of Marque

A letter of marque was issued by a nation to a privateer or mercenary to act on the behalf of that nation for the purpose of retaliating against another nation for some wrong, such as a border incursion or seizure.
 

Ordain

To order by or as if by decree.
 

Post road

a road over which mail is carried
 

Posterity

Future generations. 2. All of a person's descendants    (forever)
 

Pro tempore

For the time being; temporarily. Also: Pro tem
 
 

Quarter

to provide with shelter
 

Quorum

the number of members required to be present for business to be legally conducted
 

Redress

1. To set right, remedy or rectify. 2. To make amends for. n. 1. Satisfaction for wrong done; reparation. 2. Correction.
 

Reprisal

 An act taken by a nation, short of war, to gain redress for an action taken against that nation. For example, seizing a ship in retaliation for a seized ship.
 

Republic

a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and is usually a president;

a government in which supreme power is held by the citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives governing according to law;

In the context of the United States, both definitions apply.

Revenue

Money (taxes) collected by the Government, at ANY level

Suffrage

1. A vote. 2. The right or privilege of voting; franchise.

Treason

treason n the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war

Welfare

1. health, happiness, or prosperity; well-being. [to fare well]

Welfare in today's context also means organized efforts on the part of public or private organizations to benefit the poor, or simply public assistance. This is not the meaning of the word as used in the Constitution.