Constitution and Federalism key definitions Flashcards
What is meant by bipartisanship?
-Where opposing parties find common ground through compromise.
What is meant by checks and balances?
-Powers given exclusively to one branch of government to ‘check the actions’ of other branches.
-Powers often constitutionally enshrined.
What is meant by codified constitution?
-one in which key constitutional provisions are provided for in one written document.
What is meant by constitution?
-A codified document in which outlines the three branches of government and its jurisdictions.
What is meant by entrenchment?
-constitutional changes protected from change.
What is meant by enumerated powers?
-powers explicitly stated.
-E.g. article 1, section 8 in the US constitution which provides a list of congressional powers.
What is meant by federalism?
-The relationship between the US national government known as the federal government and each of the 50 states.
What is meant by limited government?
-The role of government is limited by checks and balances and there is a separation of powers.
-‘Bulwark against corruption’- cannot simply impose its policy.
What is meant by principle?
-A fundamental moral rule that guides and influences how something is done.
What is meant by a separation of powers?
-A theory in which political power is distributed among the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, each acting independently and interdependently.
What is meant by state rights?
-The powers that individual states have, operating separately from federal government and protected by the idea of federalism.
