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American Government > Vocab > Flashcards

Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

Article

A

One of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution

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2
Q

Jurisdiction

A

The authority of a court to rule on certain cases

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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”

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4
Q

Amendment

A

A change to the constitution

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5
Q

Popular Sovereignty

A

Rule by the people

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6
Q

Federalism

A

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

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7
Q

Separation of Powers

A

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

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8
Q

Checks and Balances

A

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

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9
Q

Veto

A

Rejection of a bill

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10
Q

Judicial Review

A

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

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11
Q

Expressed powers

A

Powers directly stated in the Constitution

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12
Q

Enumerated powers

A

The expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered

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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

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14
Q

Federal bureaucracy

A

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

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15
Q

Ratify

A

To approve

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16
Q

Petition

A

An appeal

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17
Q

Balanced budget

A

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

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18
Q

Impeach

A

To accuse a public official of misconduct in office

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19
Q

Treaty

A

A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

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20
Q

Executive agreement

A

An agreement made between the president and a head of state

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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)

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