AP Gov - 1.6 terms

Checks and Balances

Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive branch applying and enforcing law, and the judiciary branch interpreting law.

Impeachment

Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official, the first step in removal from office.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the land; ratified in 1788; outlines the roles and abilities of each of the three branches and how this document should be documented; also includes a Bill of Rights as a protection of individual civil liberties.

Federalist 51

Essay that discusses the e idea of a legislative branch; the branch would be the most powerful and have the ability to use checks and balances on other branches.