Chapter 4 Flashcards
the body of government that makes laws
Legislature
legislature with two chambers
Bicameral Legislature
a government in which decisions are made through representatives of the people
Republic
a legislature with one chamber
Unicameral Legislature
the branch of government responsible for putting laws into effect
Executive
an intermediary body that elects the president
Electoral College
government in which the executive is chosen independently of the legislature and the two branches are separate
Presidential System
government in which the executive is chosen by the legislature from among its members and the two branches are merged
Parliamentary System
the power to interpret laws and judge whether a law has been broken
Judicial Power
the power of the supreme court to rule on the constitutionality of laws
Judicial Review
an alternative to judicial review, the acceptance of legislative acts as the final law of the land
Legislative Supremacy
the institutional arrangement that assigns judicial, executive, and legislative powers to different persons or groups, thereby limiting the powers of each
Separation of powers
the principle that allows each branch of government to exercise some form of control over the others
Checks and balances
a political system in which authority is divided between different levels of government
Federalism
congressional powers specifically named in article I:9
Enumerated Powers
constitutional authorization for congress to make any law required to carry out its powers.
Necessary and Proper clause
constitutional declaration (article VI) that the Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the supreme law of the land
Supremacy Clause
powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments
Concurrent powers
the federal system under which the national and state governments are responsible for separate policy areas
Dual federalism
the federal system under which the national and state governments share responsibilities for most domestic policy areas
cooperative federalism
government in which all power is centralized (Britain)
Unitary systems
government in which local units hold all the power (articles of confederation)
Confederal systems
supreme court ruling (1819) confirming the supremacy of national over state government
McCulloch v. Maryland
supreme court ruling (1824) establishing national authority over interstate business
Gibbons v. Ogden
declaration by a state that a federal law is void within its borders
Nullification
the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states
Devolution
federal funds provided for a specific purpose, restricted by detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance standards
Categorical grant
federal funds provided for a broad purpose , unrestricted by detailed requirements and regulations
block grant
a federal order mandating that states operate and pay for a program created at the national level.
unfunded mandate
citizen petitions to place a proposal or constitutional amendment on the ballot, to be adopted or rejected by majority vote, bypassing the legislature
initiative
an election in which a bill passed by the state legislature is submitted to voters for approval
referendum
votes to remove elected officials from office
recall elections
