Chapter 3 - The Constitution

Question 1

article

Answer 1

one of seven main divisions of the body of the constistution

Question 2

jurisdiction

Answer 2

the authority of a court to rule on certain cases

Question 3

supremacy clause

Answer 3

the statement establishing the constitution as the highest law of the land

Question 4

amendment

Answer 4

a change to the Constitution

Question 5

popular sovereignty

Answer 5

rule by the people

Question 6

federalism

Answer 6

a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Question 7

checks and balances

Answer 7

the system whereby each branch of government exercises some control over the others

Question 8

veto

Answer 8

rejection of a bill

Question 9

judicial review

Answer 9

the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of the local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

Question 10

federal government

Answer 10

the national government in Washington D.C.

Question 11

expressed powers

Answer 11

powers directly stated in the Constitution

Question 12

enumerated powers

Answer 12

the expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered 1-18 in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution

Question 13

elastic clause

Answer 13

statement in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers expressed in the other clauses of Article I

Question 14

federal bureaucracy

Answer 14

departments and agencies of the federal government–mostly the executive branch

Question 15

ratify

Answer 15

to approve

Question 16

petition

Answer 16

an appeal

Question 17

balanced budget

Answer 17

plan requiring that what the government spends will not exceed its income

Question 18

impeach

Answer 18

to accuse a public official of high crimes and misdemeanors in office

Question 19

executive agreement

Answer 19

an agreement made between the president and another head of state

Question 20

judicial restraint

Answer 20

the philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political actions

Question 21

judicial activism

Answer 21

the philosophy that the Supreme Court should play an active role in shaping national policies by addressing social and political issues

Question 22

prior restraint

Answer 22

government censorship of information before it’s published of broadcasted

Question 23

probable cause

Answer 23

a reasonable basis to believe a person or premises is linked to a crime

Question 24

search warrant

Answer 24

an order signed by a judge naming the individual to be arrested for a specific crime

Question 25

due process of law

Answer 25

principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals

Question 26

eminent domain

Answer 26

the power of the government to take private property for public use

Question 27

lame duck

Answer 27

an outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term after retiring or being defeated for reelection

Question 28

poll tax

Answer 28

money paid in order to vote

Question 29

incorporation doctrine

Answer 29

most of the bill of rights provisions which originally only applied to national government have been “incorporated” into the state through court decisions, meaning its protections cover state laws