U.S. Government Midterm: Constitution, Congress, Presidency, and Courts

Authority

right + power to enforce decisions

Legitimacy

Broad popular support by the people

Separation of Powers

dividing powers among the branches

Checks and Balances

making sure one branch does not get too powerful

Judicial Review

the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Enumerated Powers

Powers given to the federal govt by the Constitution specifically listed in the Constitution

Inherent Powers

Powers given to the federal gov't, but not clearly defined

Concurrent Powers

shared powers between federal + state level

Supremacy Clause

federal law is greater than state law

Writ of habeas corpus

accused have to be explained the charges or why they are being held

Ex post facto

can't create a law, & then punish a person for breaking it prior to the law being created

Establishment clause

Part of 1st amendment saying government shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion

Free exercise clause

1st amendment provision that prohibits govt from interfering with religious practices

Slander

saying something to harm someone's reputation

Libel

writing something to harm someone's reputation

Grandfather clause

restricted voting to those who could prove that their grandparents had voted prior to 1867

Poll tax

required everyone to pay a tax to vote

Literacy tests

All people had to prove they were literate in order to vote

Lynching

Public murders to punish someone

Bicameral

2 house legislature

Filibuster

method of defeating a bill by stalling + preventing a vote

Cloture

Senator can only speak 1 hour on a bill under debate

Incumbent

currently holding office

Gerrymandering

when the district is redrawn dramatically to determine which party will win

Committee

Where the majority of the work in both houses is done

Lobbyist

groups who provide info to support or potentially support legislation

Veto

threaten to kill a bill or actually do it

Commander-in-chief

leader of the armed forces

Emergency powers

an inherent power used by the President during periods of national crisis

Executive orders

order by president that carries the weight of law

War Powers Resolution

1973, requires pres to give a 48 hr warning of a military attack

Executive privilege

Presidents ability to keep certain info private

Impeachment

removal of an elected official from office

Pardon

legal forgiveness of a crime

Amnesty

Pardons to large groups of people

Spoils system

firing public-office holders of a defeated political party to be replaced

Patronage

jobs, grants, & other special favors given to friends as a thank you

Precedent

a court decision based on previous decisions

Majority opinion

gives the ruling + explains courts decision

Dissenting opinion

Statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion