Chapter 3 - The Constitution Flashcards
article
one of seven main divisions of the body of the constistution
jurisdiction
the authority of a court to rule on certain cases
supremacy clause
the statement establishing the constitution as the highest law of the land
amendment
a change to the Constitution
popular sovereignty
rule by the people
federalism
a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
checks and balances
the system whereby each branch of government exercises some control over the others
veto
rejection of a bill
judicial review
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of the local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
federal government
the national government in Washington D.C.
expressed powers
powers directly stated in the Constitution
enumerated powers
the expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered 1-18 in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution
elastic clause
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
federal bureaucracy
departments and agencies of the federal government–mostly the executive branch
ratify
to approve
petition
an appeal
balanced budget
plan requiring that what the government spends will not exceed its income
impeach
to accuse a public official of high crimes and misdemeanors in office
executive agreement
an agreement made between the president and another head of state
judicial restraint
the philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political actions
judicial activism
the philosophy that the Supreme Court should play an active role in shaping national policies by addressing social and political issues
prior restraint
government censorship of information before it’s published of broadcasted
probable cause
a reasonable basis to believe a person or premises is linked to a crime
search warrant
an order signed by a judge naming the individual to be arrested for a specific crime
due process of law
principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals
eminent domain
the power of the government to take private property for public use
lame duck
an outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term after retiring or being defeated for reelection
poll tax
money paid in order to vote
incorporation doctrine
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
