US Constitution and Great Britain Vocab

Legislative branch

part of government responsible for writing laws and major policies

Executive branch

part of government responsible for implementing laws thorough the government’s bureaucracy

Judicial branch

part of government responsible for hearing cases and applying and interpreting laws

Head of State

Executive leader who represents a nation in ceremonial functions; in some governments can also have formal powers to shape foreign policy

Head of Government

Executive leader sometimes known as a chief executive who formulate, implements, and enforces policies through the cabinet and different agencies

Parliamentary systems

combine the lawmaking and executive functions, which allows the national legislature to select and remove the head of government and cabinet

Presidential systems

when separate election processes are used in the selection of the president and the national legislature; president serves as head of state and head of government who oversees the bureaucratic implementation of executive regulations and laws written by the legislature

Semi-presidential systems

when separate election processes are used in the selection of the president and the national legislature; president serves as head of state and selects the head of government, with the legislature’s approval, to shape policies and implement the legislature’s laws

Fixed-term election systems

In which elections for public officials take place on a regularly announced established date

Executive bureaucracy

System of government agencies that implement executive regulations and laws written by the legislature

Executive cabinet

Top governmental officials in charge of formulating, implementing, and enforcing policy through different methods and bureaucratic agencies

Commander in chief

Top governmental official in charge of decisions pertaining to the military

Prime minister

when the leader of the national legislature is also the head of government who is in charge of formulating, implementing, and enforcing policy through different methods and bureaucratic agencies

Civil service

Permanent members of bureaucratic agencies who implement laws and governmental regulations

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, written to address Anti-Federalist concerns and limit federal government power; protect individual liberties/natural rights from government

Civil Liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms that protect individuals from the government overreach/interference

Civil rights

Protect individuals from discrimination/unequal treatment under the law

Coalition

Administration where two or more political parties agree to share power and govern together

Commerce Clause

Grants Congress power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, Native American tribes, and among the states

Concurrent powers

Political powers shared by the federal and state governments in a federal system

Constitutional Amendments

Formal changes, additions, corrections made to the Constitution

Constitutional democracy

System of government where elected representatives have power within limits defined by a fundamental set of laws or a Constitution

Cruel and unusual punishment

Punishment deemed unacceptable because of the suffering, pain, or humiliation it inflicts on the person subjected to the punishment (8th Amendment)

Double jeopardy

Legal rule stopping government from trying/punishing a person twice for the same crime (5th Amendment)

Electoral College

A system used to elect the president and vice president: each state is assigned electors (2 for each senator + additional based on House of Reps): winner of popular vote in the state takes all electoral votes; candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win

Enumerated powers

The specific authorities explicitly granted to the federal government (Congress) by the US Constitution

Equal protection clause

Requires states to treat similarly situated people the same under the law, protect civil rights (14th Amendment

Establishment clause

Prohibits government from establishing an official religion/favoring one religion (1st Amendment)

Federalist 70

A single, energetic executive is necessary for a strong, effective, and free republic (prevent arguments/stalling) (Hamilton)

Federalist 78

Defends the power of judicial review and lifetime tenure of federal judges (judiciary branch weak, lifetime appointments prevents political pressure)

Free exercise clause

Protects an individuals right to practice their religion and hold their beliefs without government interference

Impeachment

Formal process of filing official charges of misconduct against a government official (accusation, not removal); proposed in House, tried in Senate (2/3 majority)

Full faith and credit clause

Requires US states to respect/honor the public acts, records, judicial rulings of every other state

Implied powers

Powers exercised by US government not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but reasonably assumed to be granted through necessary and proper execution of its expressed powers

Inherent powers

Unstated authorities that a government/branch/official claims naturally by virtue of being a sovereign power

Incorporation/Selective Incorporation

US Supreme Court’s case-by-case process of applying protections of the federal Bill of Rights to state and local governments through Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Limited government

Political system where the power and authority of the governing body are restricted by law (written Constitution)

Mandate

Rules/orders issued by the federal government that states/local governments must follow

Marble cake(cooperative) federalism

Governance system where national, state, and local governments share overlapping powers, policy goals, and administrative duties

Natural law

Philosophical/legal belief that certain moral principles are inherent in human nature and can be discovered through human reason rather than be created by the government

Privileges and Immunities clause

Stops states from treating out-of-state citizens unfairly when it comes to basic, fundamental rights

Shared powers

Political and legal authorities that both the federal and state governments can exercise simultaneously in the same territory

Writ of habeas corpus

Legal order requiring government of jailer to bring a detained person before a court and prove that detention is lawful