executive, judicial branches, american federalist system

monroe doctrine

a principle of US policy, first articulated by President James Monroe, declaring that interventions by european powers in the affairs of the nations of the Western Hemisphere would be considered as intolerable acts of agression by the US

judicial review

a principle that courts have the power to overturn laws passed by congress and even actions of the president if such laws or actions conflict with the constitution. This power was established in the case Marbury v Madison

stare decisis

meaning “let the decision stand” this is a principle that courts should rely on previous decisions and established precendents as they make decisions

elastic clause

a clause in the US consititution formally known as the necessary and proper clause, that can be stretched to allow coongress to make laws on policies beyond listed powers. Stretching this clause produces what are termed implied powers

reserved powers

any powers not prohibited by the constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal goverment as outlined in the tenth ammendment

concurrent powers

powers shared by state and federal governments to tax, borrow money, build infrastructure, establish courts, establish legal punishments, and to declare eminent domain

enumerated powers

powers granted to the federal government by the constitution and listed in the constitution