Civics Ch 1-4 vocab

Sovereignty

The supreme and absolute authority within territorial boundaries

Social Contract

The theory that by contract, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order, and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens. 

Unitary system

A government that gives all key powers to the sensational or central government.

confederacy

a loose union of independent states

federal system

a government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments.

Constitution

A plan that provides the rules for government

limited government

A system in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute.

Ratified

To approve

Bicameral 

Have two houses 

articles

one of seven main divisions of the body of the constitution.

amendments

A change to the constitution

Enumerated Powers 

A list of items, found in the article 1, section 8 of the constitution that set forth the authoritative capacity of congress

Elastic Clause

Clause in Article 1, section 8 of the constitution that gives congress the right to “make all laws necessary and proper” to carry out the powers expressed in other clause of Article 1

Supremacy Clause

Statement in Article VI of the constitution establishing that the constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties of the United States “shall be the supreme Law of the Land”

Expressed powers

powers directly expressed or stated in the constitution by the Founders.