Civics Chapter 3 Vocabulary Terms

Preamble

Introduction

Articles

Outline the basic organization and powers of each branch and the methods by which the member of congress, the president, and vice president, and federal judges are chosen.

Constitutionalism

Government must be conducted according to constitutional principles

Rule of law

Government and it’s officers are always subject to never above the law.

Separation of Powers

Basic powers are distributed among three distinct and independent branches of the government

Checks and Balances

Each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks by the other branches

Veto

Reject, any act of congress

Judicial Review

Power of courts to determine whether what government does is in accord with what the constitution provides

Unconstitutional

To declare illegal, null and void

Federalism

The division of power among a central government and several regional governments came to the constitution out of both experience and necessity 

Amendment

Changes in its written words

Formal Amendment

Changes or additions that become part of the written language of the constitution itself

Bill of Rights

The first 10 Amendments

Informal Amendment

Process by which over time many changes have been made in the constitution which have not involved any changes in its written words

Executive Agreement

Pact made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state

Treaty

Formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

Electoral College

The group that makes the formal selection of the nations president

Cabinet

An advisory body to the president traditionally made up of the heads of the executive department and other officers

Senatorial Courtesy

Senate will only approve those presidential appointees that are acceptable to the senator or senators of the presidents party from the states involved