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American Government > Constitutional Vocab > Flashcards

Constitutional Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

Article

A

One of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution

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2
Q

Jurisdiction

A

The authority of a court to rule on certain cases

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3
Q

Supremacy Clause

A

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”

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4
Q

Amendment

A

A change to the Constitution

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5
Q

Popular Sovereignty

A

Rule by the people

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6
Q

Federalism

A

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

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7
Q

Separation of Powers

A

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

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8
Q

Checks and Balances

A

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

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9
Q

Veto

A

Rejection of a bill

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10
Q

Judicial Review

A

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

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11
Q

Expressed Powers

A

Powers directly stated in the Constitution

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12
Q

Enumerated Powers

A

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

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13
Q

Elastic Clause

A

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

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14
Q

Federal Bureaucracy

A

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

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15
Q

Ratify

A

To approve

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16
Q

Petition

A

An appeal

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17
Q

Balanced Budget

A

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

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18
Q

Impeach

A

To accuse a public official of misconduct in office

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19
Q

Treaty

A

A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

20
Q

Executive Agreement

A

An agreement made between the president and a head of state

21
Q

Judicial Restraint

A

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

22
Q

Judicial Activism

A

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

23
Q

Prior Restraint

A

Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast

24
Q

Probable Cause

A

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

25
Q

Search Warrant

A

An order signed by a judge describing a specific place to be searched for specific items

26
Q

Arrest Warrant

A

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

27
Q

Due Process of Law

A

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

28
Q

Eminent Domain

A

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

29
Q

Lame Duck

A

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

30
Q

Poll Tax

A

Money paid in order to vote

31
Q

Delegated Powers

A

Powers the Constitution grants or delegates to the national government

32
Q

Expressed Powers

A

Powers directly stated in the Constitution

33
Q

Implied Powers

A

Powers that the government requires to carry out the expressed constitutional powers

34
Q

Inherent Powers

A

Powers that the national government may exercise simply because it is a government

35
Q

Reserved Powers

A

Powers that belong strictly to the states

36
Q

Concurrent Powers

A

Powers that both the national government and the states have

37
Q

Enabling Act

A

The first step in the state admission procedure which enables the people of a territory to prepare a Constitution

38
Q

Extradite

A

To return a criminal or fugitive who flees across state lines back to the original state

39
Q

Civil Law

A

One relating to disputes among two or more individuals or between individuals and the government

40
Q

Interstate Compact

A

A written agreement between two or more states

41
Q

States Rights Position

A

A position that favors state and local action in dealing with problems

42
Q

Nationalist Position

A

A position that favors national action in dealing with problems

43
Q

Income Tax

A

The tax levied on individual and corporate earnings

44
Q

Sunset Law

A

A law that requires periodic checks of government agencies to see if they are still needed

45
Q

Sunshine Law

A

A law prohibiting public officials from holding meetings not open to the public

46
Q

Bureaucracy

A

Government administrators

American Government (1 decks)

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