US Gov Legislative Branch Vocab

Question 1

1. Magna Carta

Answer 1

(1215) a charter agreed to by King John of England that granted nobles certain rights and restricted the king’s powers (p. 33)

Question 2

2. Petition of Right

Answer 2

(1628) a document signed by Charles I of England that limited the powers of the English monarch (p. 33)

Question 3

3. English Bill of Rights

Answer 3

(1689) document signed by King William that stated that English monarchs would no longer be able to enact laws, raise taxes, or keep an army without Parliament’s consent (p. 34)

Question 4

4. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Answer 4

(1639) a framework of laws agreed to by settlers of the Connecticut colonies that put limits on the power of government and gave all free men the right to choose judges (p. 34)

Question 5

5. Virginia Declaration of Rights

Answer 5

(1776) a declaration of citizens’ rights issued by the Virginia Convention (p. 41)

Question 6

6. Articles of Confederation

Answer 6

(1777) the document that created the first central government for the United States; it was replaced by the Constitution in 1789 (p. 48)

Question 7

7. Northwest Ordinance

Answer 7

(1787) legislation passed by Congress to establish a plan for settling the Northwest Territory, which included areas that are now in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (p. 49)

Question 8

8. Popular Sovereignty

Answer 8

the idea that government is created by and subject to the will of the people (p. 70)

Question 9

9. Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 9

the provision of the Constitution that requires each state to honor the public acts, official records, and judicial proceedings of every other state (p. 101)

Question 10

10. Doctrine of Nullification

Answer 10

the belief that the states had the right to cancel federal laws with which they disagreed (p. 106)

Question 11

11. Doctrine of Succession

Answer 11

the idea that a state had the right to separate from the Union (p. 106)

Question 12

12. Cooperative Federalism

Answer 12

(1930–1960) an era of federalism during which the national and state government shared functional authority in broad policy areas; also called “marble cake” federalism (p. 109)

Question 13

13. Devolution

Answer 13

(1980–present) the modern trend in federalism in which more power is given back to the states; also known as “new federalism” (p. 110)

Question 14

14. Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 14

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18, of the Constitution, which gives the national legislature the power to “make all laws that are necessary and proper” to exercise the powers granted by the Constitution; also known as the “elastic clause” (p. 128)

Question 15

15. Commerce Clause

Answer 15

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, of the Constitution that outlines the commerce powers granted to Congress (p.129)

Question 16

16. Isolationism

Answer 16

a policy of avoiding involvement in foreign affairs

p. 440

Question 17

17. Internationalist

Answer 17

foreign policy that promotes cooperation between nations (p. 441)

Question 18

18. Diplomatic Recognition

Answer 18

the presidential power to formally recognize the legitimacy of a foreign government (pp. 172, 453)

Question 19

19. Trust Territory

Answer 19

a colony or territory placed under administration by another country or countries (p. 465)

Question 20

20. Monroe Doctrine

Answer 20

(1823) President James Monroe’s statement forbidding further colonization in the Americas and declaring that any attempt by a foreign country to colonize would be considered an act of hostility (p. 472)

Question 21

21. Citizen Legislatures

Answer 21

state legislatures that meet only occasionally and for brief sessions, and whose members are paid a small salary for their service; also called “part-time legislatures” (p. 532)

Question 22

22. Professional Legislatures

Answer 22

state legislatures that hold lengthy, annual sessions, and whose members are paid a full-time wage (p. 532)

Question 23

23. Initiative

Answer 23

a process that allows citizens to propose and enact state and local laws directly (p. 547)

Question 24

24. Referendum

Answer 24

a popular vote on a proposal that has already been considered by the legislature (p. 547)

Question 25

25. Recall

Answer 25

a process that allows citizens to remove government officials from office before the end of a term (p. 547)