Chapter 3-4 VOCAB - H GOV

Judicial review

The power of the courts to decide whether government acts are constitutional

Federalism

The division of power between central government and several regional governments

Separation of powers

A government system having basic political power distributed among three distinct and independent branches

Veto

The presidents rejection of an act of congress

Checks and balances

System of overlapping the powers of the three branches of government to permit each to check the actions of the others

Formal amendment

Refers to a change or addition that becomes part of the written constitution

Bill of rights

States that guarantees of basic freedoms for the American people

Cabinet

Advisory board to the president

Electoral college

The group that formally selects the nations president

Implied

Powers reasonably thought to be granted but not spelt out specifically in the constitution

Delegated

Powers granted to the national government in the constitution

Inherent

Powers belong to national government because sovereign state

Expressed

Powers spelled out in constitution

Concurrent

Powers possessed and exercised by both the national and state government

Extradition

The legal process by which a fugitive from justice of one state is returned by another state

Interstate compact

An agreement among the states

Full faith and Credit clause

States must recognize the validity of records documents and civil court decisions in other states

Privileges and Immunities clause

States cannot draw unreasonable distinctions between their own residence and residence of other states

Executive agreement

A packed made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state