US Constitution Flashcards
balanced budget amendment
a constitutional amendment to guarantee that the government does not operate a budget defect - enabling it to spend more than in raises in taxes
checks and balances
a system of providing each branch of government with the means of limiting the powers of the other branches, so that none of the exceed the powers assigned to them in the constitution
counter-majoritarian
the principle that the democratic will of the majority may not always be wise or fair and, therefore precautions need to be taken to protect those who may be adversely affected by the decisions taken by the majority
emancipation
freedom from slavery
enemy combatants
a team used by the administration of President George W Bush to describe people accused of planning violent acts against the USA, or its citizens, but not treated as prisoners of war
executive branch
the arm of the government with constitutional responsibility for ensuring that the laws of the land are implemented
executive order
a directive from the president to the staff of the executive departments that are responsible for implementing the laws of the nation
great society
a package of policies that aimed to eliminate poverty in the USA
gridlock
the inability to pass laws because the executive and legislative branches are unable to co-operate or compromise
habaes corpus
the principle that no one can be imprisoned without a properly conducted trial
homestead act
a law passed in 1862, that provided land for small fee to any farmer who occupied it.Officially defined as ‘unoccupied’, this gave farmers the legal right to land that had belonged to native Americans
Intern
To hold a section of the population in detention because they are seen as a threat to the state, even though they have not been properly tried and convicted
Judicial Branch
the arm of government with constitutional responsibility fir passing laws and for close scrutiny of the executive branch to ensure that it does not develop into an institution resembling a monarchy
negative freedom
the idea that people should be allowed to live as they please, without interference from government, provided they do not cause harm to others
new deal
a package of policies to boost the economy and provide support to people most affected by the economic situation during the depression of the 1930’s
positive freedom
the idea that people are only truly ‘free’ if they are able to make the most of their talents or potential
ratification
the process by which the constitution, after it had been written, was debated and agreed by the 13 original states, enabling it to come into force in 1789
separation of powers
the disruption of power between the three branches of government to ensure that no single person, or group, is able to make, enforce and interpret the law
block grants
financial aid from the national government to state authorities that can be used in ways that the states authorities find most appropriate to their needs
categorical grants
financial aid from the national government to state authorities which must be used in ways specified by the national government
civil rights amendments
the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution that were passed after the Civil War to ensure that the newly freed slaves would be given the same rights as other American citizens
concurrent powers
powers possessed by both the national and state governments, such as the power of taxation and passing laws
confederate
a system of government in which regional governments have more power than the national government
co-operative (marble cake) federalism
name given to the new relationship between the national government and the states resulting from the measure to cope with the economic depression of the 1930s
