US Constitution and Federalism key words Flashcards
Constitution
A collection of rules, principals and conventions which outlines the political system, location of sovereignty and relationship between the govt. and those being governed
Federal Government
A national govt. of the USA, consisting of 3 branches, Congress, the presidency and individual states
Federalism
A system of govt. in which power and sovereignty are shared between the the federal govt. and individual states
Principle
Fundamental belief or ideal. Constitutional principles may not be names in the Constitution, but they underpin the entire document and can be seen throughout the writing of this document
Limited Government
A govt. which is subject to restrictions on the power it can exercise over a country or its citizens. In the US, the limits are laid out through checks and balances in the Constitution
Separation of Powers
Complete separation of three branches of govt.: Congress, the presidency and the Supreme Court
Inc. separation of their powers, buildings and personnel
Checks and Balances
The power of one branch govt. to directly prevent the action of another branch , ‘checking’ their action. That all branches can do this to each other provides ‘balance’ of power
Gridlock
Where both the president and Congress have difficulty in exercising their powers, meaning little can be achieved
Tyranny of the majority
Ability of a minority to exercise power and protect its own interest over those of the majority
Bipartisanship
Ability of two or more parties to work together to achieve an outcome. Enforced by the supermajorities required in the constitution
Supermajority
A required majority of more than half, usually in a vote. The US constitution specifies supermajorities of two-thirds and three-quarters for a variety of processes
Appropriations Bills
A proposed law from Congress that authorises spending of govt. and therefore tax payers’ money
Judicial Review
The power of the Supreme Court to judge actions of the presidential branch or acts or actions of Congress against the Constitution
The Supreme Court can declare these acts or actions ‘unconstitutional’ and there for make them ‘null and void’
Republican ideals
A prevention of arbitrary rule, such as monarchy or a dictator.
Divided Government
A politics circumstance in which at least one of either the presidency, the House of Representatives or the Senate is held by a different party to the others
