| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Albany Plan of Union | Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown |
| rule of law | Concept that holds that government and its officials are always subject to the law of the land |
| separation of powers | Basic principle that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government |
| checks and balances | System of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, to permit each branch to control the actions of the others |
| veto | Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by the legislature; literally (Latin) "I forbid" |
| judicial review | Power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government |
| federalism | A system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central government and several local governments |
| unconstitutional | Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect |
| amendment | A change in, or addition to, a constitutional law |
| formal amendment | A modification in the Constitution brought about through one of four methods set forth in the Constitution |
| Bill of Rights | The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution |
| executive agreement | Pact made by the President with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which does not require Senate consent |
| delegated powers | Those powers granted to the National government in the Constitution. There are three distinct types of delegated powers: expressed, implied, and inherent |
| electoral college | Group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President |
| cabinet | Presidential advisory body, tradionally composed of the heads of the executive departments and other officers the President may choose |
| seniority rule | Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress, that the top posts in each chamber will be held by "ranking members" those with the longest records of service; applied most strictly to committee chairmanships |
| informal amendment | A change made in the Constitution not by actual written amendment, but by the experience of government under the Constitution; the methods include (1) legislation passed by Congress; (2) actions taken by the President; (3) decisions of the Supreme Court; (4) the activities of political parties; and (5) custom |
| exclusive powers | Most of the delegated powers; those held by the National Government alone in the federal system |
| concurrent powers | Powers held by the National Government and the States in the federal system |
| reserved powers | Those powers held by the States alone in the federal system |
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