TX Chapter 2 Flashcards
Ballot wording
Description of a proposed amendment as it appears on the ballot; can be intentionally noninstructive and misleading to voters in order to affect voter outcome
Bill of rights
A list of individual rights and freedoms granted to citizens within the state constitution
Block grants
Grants that may be used for broad purposes that allow local governments greater discretion in how funds are spent
Categorical grants
Grants that may be used to fund specific purposes as defined by the federal government
Confederal system of government
A system of government that divides power between a weak national government and strong, independently sovereign regional governments
Constitution
The basic document that provides a framework for government and limits what the government can do
Constitutional convention
An assembly of citizens who may propose changes to state constitution through voter approval
Due Process of Law Clause
Clause in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that requires all states to treat all citizens equally and that the state must follow certain rules and procedures
Earmarks
Money dedicated to a specific expenditure; for example, the excise tax on gasoline funds highway infrastructure
Equal Protection Clause
Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that requires all sates to treat all citizens equally
Federal system of government
The division of powers between a national government and regional governments
Initiative
A process that allows citizens to propose changes to the state constitution through the use of petitions signed by registered voters; Texas does not allow constitutional revision through initiative
Interstate Commerce Clause
Article in the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate commerce between the states; Congress and the courts determine what is interstate commerce
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
Statement in Article 1, Section 8, paragraph 18 of the U.S. Constitution that says Congress can pass any law necessary and proper to carry out other powers
Ordinances
Laws passed by local governments
Plural Executive System
System in which executive power is divided among several statewide elected officials
Popular sovereignty
The idea that power granted in state constitutions rests with the people
Separation of powers
Power divided between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
Social contract theory
The idea that all individuals possess inalienable rights and willingly submit to government to protect these rights
Statutes
Laws passed by state legistlatures
Supremacy clause
A clause that makes a state constitution superior to state and local laws
Tenth Amendment
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that delegates or reserves some powers to the state governments or to the people
Unitary system of government
A system of government where all functions of government are controlled by the central/national government
Principles of Constitutional government
- popular sovereignty
- social contract theory
- structure, divide, and limit power
