Chapter 3 Vocab

Question 1

Article

Answer 1

one of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution

Question 2

Jurisdiction

Answer 2

the authority of a court to rule on certain cases

Question 3

Supremacy clause

Answer 3

statement in Article VI of the Constitution establishing that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties of the United States “shall be the supreme 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

Separation of powers

Answer 7

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Question 8

Checks and balances

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Veto

Answer 9

rejection of a bill

Question 10

Judicial review

Answer 10

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

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

clause 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

Ratify

Answer 14

to approve

Question 15

Petition

Answer 15

an appeal

Question 16

Impeach

Answer 16

to accuse a public official of misconduct in office

Question 17

Treaty

Answer 17

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

Question 18

Executive agreement

Answer 18

an agreement made between the president and a head of state

Question 19

Judicial restraint

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Judicial activism

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Federal bureaucracy

Answer 21

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