| Term | Definition |
|---|
| articles | one of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution |
| jurisdiction | the authority of a court to rule on certain cases |
| supremacy clause | statement in Article VI of the Constitution establishing that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties of the Untied States "shall be the supreme Law of the Land" |
| amendments | a change to the Constitution |
| popular sovereignty | rule by the people |
| federalism | Constitutional principle that is a compromise in which power is divided between the national and state governments |
| separation of powers | the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government |
| checks and balances | the system where each branch of government exercises some control over the others |
| veto | rejection of a bill |
| judicial review | the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional |
| sovereign government | Supreme in power, rank, or authority within a country's boundaries |
| government | the instituion through which a society makes and enforces its public policies |
| representative democracy | People elect representatives. Representatives make laws, war and justice. Reps. change when voters don't like thier actions |
| dictatorship | goverment led by one powerful person who is not held responsible to the will of the people |
| 2nd Continental Congress | need |
| constitutionalism | basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law |
| Anti-Federalist vs. the Federalists | Fed: People who supported ratification of the Constitution on 1787-1788. |
| framers | group of delagates who drafted the US Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 |
| constitutionalism | basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the laws stated in the Constitution |
| unconstitutional | something that does not follow the Constitution so therefore it is illegal, null and void, and has no force and effect. |
| confederation | an organization that consists of a number of parties or groups united in an allegiance or league |
| formal amendment process | a change or addition that is written into the Constitution. |
| informal amendments--the five ways | need |
| delegated powers | powers that are specifically written into the Constitution and given to the 3 branches of government |
| expressed | spelled out in the constitution. Also called enumerated |
| implied | powers that are not specifically written into the Constitution but are granted to the 3 branches by the "Elastic Clause" (McCulloc V. Maryland) |
| inherent | powers the Const is presumed to have delegated to the National Govt because it's the govt of a sovereign state |
| concurrent | powers used by the states and federal government |
| reserved | powers not denied to the states by,but also not granted specifically in the Constitution |
| nomination | process of candidate selection in an electoral system |
| open primary | party-nominating election that any qualified voter can participate in |
| closed primary | party-nominating election that only declared party members can participate in |
| partisanship | Gov't action based on a firm allegiance to a political party |
| caucus | a meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans. |
| self-announcement | A write-in candidate |
| polling place | place where voters in a certain precint go to vote |
| political parties | group of people who want to control government by winning an election and holding office |
| Membership | need |
| Function | need |
| two-party system | a political system dominated by two major parties |
| interest groups | private groups with members that share certain views and who work to shape public policy |
| political socialization | the process by which people get their political attitudes and opinions |
| mass media | those means of communications that reach large audiences |
| reapportionment | R: redistribute the seats in a legislative body |
| congressional term is ____ years | 2 |
| qualifications and terms | need |
| how a bill becomes a law | need |
| committees | need |
| direct tax | tax that must be paid by the person on whom it is levied |
| indirect tax | tax levied on one party but passed on to another party for payment |
Combine with other sets
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