packet 2.1-2.3 quiz vocab

popular sovereignty

government based on the consent of the people; the people are the ultimate source of government's power

federalism

the distribution of powers between the federal government and state (and local) governments; limits the powers of the federal government

delegated powers (aka enumerated powers)

powers of the federal government (Congress) that are specifically listed in the Constitution; found in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution

implied powers

powers of the federal government that are NOT listed in the Constitution; these powers must be “necessary and proper“ to carry out delegated powers

the “necessary and proper“ clause (aka the “elastic clause“)

allows federal government to stretch its delegated powers into implied powers, allows federal government to adapt to changing times (flexibility)

the commerce clause

Congress shall have the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states and the Indian tribes

interstate commerce

trade and travel that occurs between states, federal government regulates

intrastate commerce

trade and travel that occurs within a state, state government regulates

reserved powers

powers of the state government, all powers not delegated to the federal government, are powers of the state; the 10th Amendment reserves power to the states

concurrent powers

powers that are shared by the federal (national) and state government 

writ of habeas corpus

the constitutional right to be informed of the crime you have been accused of committing within a timely fashion, i.e. a lawful reason must be given for a person's detention by the government

ex post facto law

meaning “after the fact”, a person cannot be arrested for an act that was not a crime at the time the act took place; both the federal and state governments are prohibited from passing such a law