Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

American Government > Vocab > Flashcards

Vocab Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Government Basics flashcards AP® U.S. Government flashcards American Government 101 flashcards
1
Q

Article

A

One of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Jurisdiction

A

The authority of a court to rule on certain cases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Amendment

A

A change to the constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Popular Sovereignty

A

Rule by the people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Federalism

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Separation of Powers

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Checks and Balances

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Veto

A

Rejection of a bill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Judicial Review

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Expressed powers

A

Powers directly stated in the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Enumerated powers

A

The expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Elastic clause

A

Clause in Article 1, 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 1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Federal bureaucracy

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Ratify

A

To approve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Petition

A

An appeal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Balanced budget

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Impeach

A

To accuse a public official of misconduct in office

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Treaty

A

A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Executive agreement

A

An agreement made between the president and a head of state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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 that 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 describing a specific place to be searched for specific items

27
Q

Due process of law

A

Principle in the 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 re-election

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

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”

37
Q

Concurrent powers

A

Powers that both the national government and the states have

38
Q

Enabling act

A

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

39
Q

Extradite

A

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

40
Q

Civil law

A

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

41
Q

Interstate compact

A

A written agreement between two or more states

42
Q

States’ rights position

A

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

43
Q

Nationalist position

A

A position that favors national action in dealing with problems

44
Q

Income tax

A

The tax levied on individual and corporate earnings

45
Q

Sunset law

A

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

46
Q

Sunshine law

A

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

47
Q

Bureaucracy

A

Government administrators

48
Q

Republicanism

A

A government in which voters hold sovereign power; elected representatives, responsible to the people, exercise that power

49
Q

Limited government

A

A system in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute

50
Q

Individual rights

A

The rights needed by each individual to pursue their lives and goals without interference from other individuals or the government; the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

American Government (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions