Chapter 3

Question 0

Limited government

Answer 0

Government is restricted in what it may do and each individual has rights that government cannot take away

Question 1

Popular sovereignty

Answer 1

People are the source of any and all governmental power and government can exist only with the consent of the governed

Question 2

Constitutionalism

Answer 2

Basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law

Question 3

Rule of law

Answer 3

Government and its officers are always subject to the law

Question 4

Separation of powers

Answer 4

The executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government

Question 5

Checks and balances

Answer 5

Overlapping the powers, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others

Question 6

Veto

Answer 6

Chief executive’s power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Question 7

Judicial review

Answer 7

The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action

Question 8

Unconstitutional

Answer 8

Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect

Question 9

Federalism

Answer 9

A system of government in which the Constitution divides power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments

Question 10

Amendment

Answer 10

A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law

Question 11

Ratification

Answer 11

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of the constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

Question 12

Formal amendment

Answer 12

Change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself through one of four things set forth in the constitution

Question 13

Bill of rights

Answer 13

The first 10 amendments to the constitution

Question 14

Executive agreement

Answer 14

A pact made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state

Question 15

Treaty

Answer 15

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

Question 16

Electoral college

Answer 16

A group of persons chosen in each state and the district of Columbia every four years to make a formal selection of the president and vice president

Question 17

Cabinet

Answer 17

An advisory body to the president

Question 18

Senatorial courtesy

Answer 18

Custom that the Senate will not approve a presidential appointment opposed by a majority party senator from the state in which the point team would serve