The State of Texas: Government, Politics, and Policy- Chapter 2

Constitution

The basic document that provides a framework for government and limits what that government can do

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that power granted in state constitutions rests with the people

Social Contract Theory

The idea that all individuals possess inalienable rights and willingly submit to government to protect these rights

Separation of Powers

Power divided between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Plural Executive System

System in which executive power is divided among the several statewide election officials

Bill of Rights

A list of individual rights and freedoms granted to citizens within the state constitution

Supremecy Clause

A clause that makes a state constitution superior to state and local laws

Statutes

Laws passed by state legislatures

Ordinances

Laws passed by local governments

Earmarks

Money dedicated to a specific expenditure; for example, the excise tax on gasoline funds highway infrastructure

Initiative

A process that allows citizens to propose changes to the state constitution through the use of petitions signed by registered voters; Texas does not allow constitutional revision through initiative

Constitutional Convention

An assembly of citizens who may propose changes to state constitutions through voters approval

Ballot Wording

Description of a proposed amendment as it appears on the ballot; can be intentionally noninstructive and misleading to voters in order to affect voter outcome

Federal System of Government

The division of powers between a national government and regional government

Unitary System of Government

a system of government where all functions of government are controlled by the central/national government

Confederal System of Government

A system of government that divides power between a weak national government that divides power between a weak national government and strong, independently sovereign regional goverments

Tenth Amendment

Amendments of the U.S. Constitution that delegates or reserves some powers to the state governments or to the people

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Statement in Article 1, Section 8, paragraph 18 of the U.S. Constitution that says Congress can pass any law necessary and proper to carry out other powers

Interstate Commerce Clause

Article in U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate commerce between the states; Congress and the courts determine what is interstate commerce.

Equal Protection Clause

Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. By interpretation, the Fifth Amendment imposes the same limitation on the national government. This clause is the major constitutional restraint on the power of governments to discriminate against persons because of race, national origin, or sex.

Due Process of Law Clause

Clause in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that requires states to treat all citizens equally and that the state must follow certain rules and procedures

Categorial Grants

Grants that may be used to fund specific purposes as defined by the federal government

Block Grants

grants that may be used for broad purposes that allow local governments greater discretion in how funds are spent