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Ch 3 Terms

Terms in this set (40)

Ratification
state by state approval of a Constitutional amendment
Separation of Powers
Three branches of government
Checks & Balances
allows one branch of government to limit the power of another branch
Federalism
power divided between a central and regional government
Limited Government
government is not all powerful
Judicial Review
power of the courts to decide whether a law is constitutional
Amendment
change made in the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
People hold all political power
Veto
To reject a bill
Unconstitutional
Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void
Cabinet
Presidential advisory body, traditionally made up of the heads of the executive departments and other officers
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
Executive Agreement
A pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state
Article
The Constitution is divided into seven numbered sections called articles
Principle
The Constitution is built around six basic principles
Repeal
The action of revoking or annulling a law or congressional act
Commander in Chief
According to Article II, Section 2, Clause I of the Constitution, the President of the United States is "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States".
Bicameral
an adjective describing a legislative body composed of two chambers
Rule of law
principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Formal amendment
change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself through one of four methods set forth in the Constitution
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Division of powers
basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis
Delegated powers
Those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the constitution
Expressed powers
Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the "enumerated powers"
Implied powers
Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.
Inherent powers
Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community
Reserved powers
Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people
Exclusive powers
Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone
Concurrent powers
Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.
Supremacy clase
Article VI of the Constitution states that the supreme law of the land is the Constitution, the laws of the national government, and treaties.
Enabling Act
A congressional act directing the people of a United States territory to frame a proposed State constitution as a step towards admission to the Union
Interstate compacts
Contracts between states that carry the force of law; generally now used as a tool to address multistate policy concerns
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
Extradition
A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
Privileges and Immunities Clause
Part of Article IV of the Constitution guaranteeing that the citizens of each state are afforded the same rights as citizens of all other states.
Grants-in-aid program
grants of federal money or other resources to States, cities, counties, and other local units
Categorical grants
Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.
Block grants
Money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington
Project grants
Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications
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