Studied by 19 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
Government
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
Public Policies
All of the things a government decides to do, covering issues like taxation, defense, education, and healthcare.
Legislative Power
The power to make laws and frame public policies.
Executive Power
The power to execute, enforce, and administer laws.
Judicial Power
The power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and settle disputes.
Constitution
The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government.
Dictatorship
A form of government where those in power cannot be held responsible to the will of the people.
Democracy
A form of government where supreme authority rests with the people.
State
A defined territory with a permanent population, organized politically, and with the power to make and enforce laws.
Sovereignty
The absolute power of a state within its territory to decide its own foreign and domestic policies.
Force Theory
The theory that the state was born of force, where one person or group claimed control over an area and forced others to submit.
Evolutionary Theory
The theory that the state developed naturally from the early family structure.
Divine Right Theory
The theory that God created the state and that those of royal birth have a "divine right" to rule.
Social Contract Theory
The theory that the state arose from a voluntary agreement among individuals to create a government for mutual benefit.
Preamble
The introductory statement of the Constitution outlining its purposes.
Limited Government
The principle that government must obey the law and is restricted in its powers.
Separation of Powers
The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.
Checks and Balances
A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.
Judicial Review
The power of courts to determine the constitutionality of governmental actions.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual rights.
Amendment
A formal change or addition to the Constitution.
Ratification
The official approval of an amendment by the states.
Direct Democracy
A form of democracy where the people directly participate in decision-making.
Representative Democracy
A form of democracy where elected officials represent a group of people.
Unitary Government
A centralized government where all powers are held by a single agency.
Federal Government
A system where power is divided between a central government and local governments.
Confederate Government
An alliance of independent states with a central government that has limited powers.
Presidential Government
A system where the executive branch is separate from the legislative branch.
Bicameral Legislature
A legislature made up of two houses, as established by the U.S. Congress.
Senatorial Courtesy
An unwritten rule that the Senate will approve only those presidential appointees who are acceptable to the senators of the President's party from the state involved.
22nd Amendment
An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that limits the President to two terms in office.
25th Amendment
An amendment that addresses presidential succession and disability.
Reserved Powers
Powers that are not granted to the National Government by the Constitution and are not prohibited to the States, thus reserved for the States or the people.
Implied Powers
Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are reasonably suggested by the expressed powers.
Inherent Powers
Powers that belong to the National Government because it is a sovereign state in the world community.
Supremacy Clause
A clause in Article VI of the Constitution stating that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
A clause in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution requiring states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.
Extradition
The legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state can be returned to that state.
Privileges and Immunities Clause
A clause in Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution that prohibits states from discriminating against citizens of other states.
Continuous Body
A term used to describe the Senate, which is never entirely up for election at the same time, ensuring stability.
Incumbent
A current officeholder who is seeking reelection.
Reapportionment
The process of redistributing seats in the House of Representatives based on changes in population.
Congressional District
A specific area from which a member of the House of Representatives is elected.
Necessary and Proper Clause
A clause in Article I, Section 8, allowing Congress to make laws deemed necessary and proper to execute its powers.
Federalism
A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (states).
McCulloch v
An 1819 Supreme Court case that established the principle of national supremacy and implied powers of Congress.
Expressed Powers
Powers specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution, primarily found in Article I, Section 8.
Interstate Compacts
Agreements between states that require congressional approval, allowing states to cooperate on shared issues.
Extradition
The legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state from another state.
Privileges and Immunities Clause
A clause in the Constitution that prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states.
Bicameral Legislature
A legislative body composed of two houses, as established by the U.S. Congress.
Term of Congress
The period during which Congress meets, lasting two years, with each term divided into two sessions.
Gerrymandering
The practice of drawing congressional district boundaries to favor one political party over another.
Commerce Clause
A clause in the Constitution granting Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.
Bankruptcy Power
The authority granted to Congress to establish uniform laws on bankruptcy throughout the United States.
Legal Tender
Money that must be accepted if offered in payment of a debt, as established by Congress.
Deficit Financing
The practice of funding government spending by borrowing rather than through revenue.
Public Debt
The total amount of money that a government owes to creditors.
Federalism and National Supremacy
The relationship between state and federal governments, where federal law prevails in case of conflict.
Contract Clause
A provision in the Constitution that prohibits states from passing laws that impair the obligation of contracts.
Note 
Flashcard (21)