Governing States and Localities, Chapter 3

Electorate

The population of individuals who can vote.

Judicial Federalism

The idea that the courts determine the boundaries of state-federal relations.

Dual Constitutionalism

A system of government in which people live under two sovereign powers. In the United States, these are the government of their state of residence and the federal government.

Natural Law, or Higher Law

A set of moral and political rules based on divine law and binding on all people.

Constitutional Amendments

Proposals to change a constitution, typically enacted by a supermajority of the legislature or through a statewide referendum.

Pienary Power

Power that is not limited or constrained.

Appropriations Bill

Laws passed by legislatures authorizing the transfer of money to the executive branch.

Colonial Charters

Legal documents drawn up by the British Crown that spelled out how the colonies were to be governed.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislature having only one chamber. Nebraska is currently the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature.

Separation of Powers

The principle that government should be divided into separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature made up of two chambers, typically a house of representatives, or assembly, and a senate.

Franchise

The right to vote

Jim Crow Laws

Legislative measures passed in the last decade of the nineteenth century that sought to systematically separate blacks and whites.

Constitutional Convention

An assembly convened for the purpose of amending or replacing a constitution.

Ratification

A vote of the entire electorate to approve a constitutional change, referendum, or ballot initiative.

Ballot Initiative

A process through which voters directly convey instructions to the legislature, approve a law, or amend the constitution.

Referendum

A procedure that allows the electorate to either accept or reject a law passed by the legislature.

Constitutional Revision Commission

An expert committee formed to assess a constitution and suggest changes.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War when the southern states were governed under the direction of the Union army.

Model Constitution

An expert-approved generic or "ideal" constitution that states sometimes use as a yardstick against which they can measure their existing constitutions.

Line-Item Veto

The power to reject a portion of a bill while leaving the rest intact.

Municipal Charter

A document that establishes operating procedures for a local government.

Home Rule

A form of self-governance granted to towns and cities by the state.