INTRODUCTION and SHORT GLOSSARY ------------------------------- The United States Constitution is now over 200 years old. Two-thirds of the world's constitutions have been adopted since 1970. Only 15 predate World War II. None predates the US Constitution. Recent studies show that: Nearly half (46%) of American adults did not know that the purpose of the original Constitution was to create a federal government and define and limit its power. Fully 59% did not know what the Bill of Rights is. Almost half (49%) thought the President could suspend the Constitution in times of war or other emergency. SHORT GLOSSARY of a few "constitutional" terms, mostly from Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1976: arm--a means of offense or defense: weapon; especially: firearm. attainder--extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person upon sentence of death or outlawry (the deprivation of the benefit and protection of law) usually after a conviction of treason. Bill of Attainder--an act of the legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a trial. Forbidden by Article I, section 9, clause 3 of the Constitution.) capitation--a direct uniform tax imposed upon each head or person. emolument--the returns arising from office or employment. duty--a tax on imports. excise--an internal tax levied on the manufacture, sale, or consumption of a commodity within a country. ex post facto--Latin, from a thing done afterward--retroactive--more precisely, disregarding or altering the previous status or setting of the event or thing concerning which a conclusion is reached or at which action is directed, as in "ex post facto law.". habeas corpus--Latin, you should have the body--any of several common-law writs issued to bring a party before a court or judge; especially: habeas corpus ad subjiciendum--Latin, you should have the body for submitting--a writ for inquiring into the lawfulness of the restraint of a person who is imprisoned or detained in another's custody. impeachment--the act of charging a public official before a competent tribunal with misconduct in office. The House impeaches; the Senate tries the impeachment. impost--something imposed or levied: tax. lay--to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment, as in "lay a tax." levy--to impose or collect by legal authority. letters of marque--written authority granted to a private person by a government to seize the subjects of a foreign state or their goods; specifically, a license granted to a private person to fit out an armed ship to plunder the enemy. militia--armed, unorganized citizens (also see "select militia") poll tax--a tax of a fixed amount per person levied on adults and often payable as a requirement for voting. pro tempore--Latin, for the time being, as in "a President pro tempore." reprisal--the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered, or an instance of such action. select militia--the equivalent of a State Defense Force or National Guard tax--a charge usu. of money imposed by authority upon persons or property for public purposes. writ--a formal written document directing the person(s) to which it is directed to perform or refrain from performing acts specified therein, as in "writs of election". ---------------------- END OF INTRODUCTION AND GLOSSARY ----------------------