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judicial review
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
unconstitutional
not consistent with a nation's constitution
criminal trial court
hears cases about crimes like burglary, murder, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
plaintiff
in a civil trial, the person who brings suit in court
prosecutor
an attorney who represents the government in a criminal case
jury
a group of citizens who hear evidence during a trial and give a verdict
grand jury
a group that hears charges against a suspect and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring the person to trial
contentious
likely to cause disagreement or argument
ideological
a set of basic beliefs about life, culture, government, and society
judicial activism
the philosophy that courts must sometimes step into political and social controversies in order to protect Constitutional rights
originalism
a judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution by exploring understanding of the text that people had when they adopted the Constitution
error of law
a mistake by a judge as to the applicable law in a case
concurrent opinion
document issued by judges who agree with majority opinion but not the the same reasoning
arbitrary
existing or coming about seemingly at random or by chance
amend
to change, alter
judicial restraint
the philosophy that courts should generally avoid overturning laws passed or actions taken by democratically elected bodies
brief
a written statement setting forth the legal arguments, relevant facts, and precedents supporting one side of a case
amicus curiae
Latin for "friend of the court"; a written brief from an individual or group claiming to have information useful to a court's consideration of a case
rule of four
an unwritten rule declaring that if four of the nine justices agree to hear a case, it will be scheduled for argument
law clerk
an attorney who assists a justice in reviewing cases
writ of certiorari
an order from the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up the records on a case for review
primary
an event held before an election where members o the party go to the polls and vote on which candidate they want to see earn their party's nomination
uniform
consistent in conduct or opinion
expertise
special skill or knowledge in a particular field
expressed powers
powers directly stated in the Constitution
elastic clause
clause in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to "make all laws necessary and proper" to carry out the powers expressed in the other clauses of Article I.
preamble
introduction to the constitution
articles
one of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution
amendments
changes to the Constitution
legislative branch
the branch of government that makes the laws
reserved powers
powers that belong strictly to the states
powers of the executive branch
negotiate treaties 2. nominate people for federal office 3. enforce laws 4. conduct wars 5. pardon people
powers of the judicial branch
Interprets the constitution and other laws; reviews lower courts decisions or make sure the are being constitutional
branch
part of government
constitution of the united states
sets out the laws and principles of the government of the United States.
popular sovereignty
rule by the people
delegated powers
powers the Constitution grants or delegates to the national government
limited government
the concept that a government's power was not absolute
federalism
a system of government in which two or more governments exercise power over the same
separation of powers
the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
checks of congress on the president
override a veto, impeach the president, confirm nominations
incorporation doctrine
the process by which the Bill of Rights was extended to the states and localities
probable cause
a reasonable basis to believe a person or premises is linked to a crime
eminent domain
the power of government to take private property for public use
violation
an act of disregard or disrespect
cabinet
the president's closest advisers, consisting of the vice president, the secretaries of each of the 15 executive departments, and other top government officials that help the president make decisions and policy
leak
the release of secret information to the media by anonymous government officials
federal
pertaining to the union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments of the separate states
white house chief of staff
the president's most trusted adviser and the overseer of the work and operations of the White House and the Executive Office of the President (EOP)
ambassador
an official of the government who represents the nation in diplomatic matters
government corporation
a business that the federal government runs
innovative
characterized by a new idea or method
spoils system
victorious politicians rewarding their supporters with government jobs
civil service system
government employment based on competitive examinations and merit
whistleblower
a federal employee who reports corruption or wrongdoing by the government
recuse
to remove oneself from participation to avoid a conflict of interest
implement
to put into effect and ensure fulfillment by concrete measures
bureaucrat
one who works for a department or agency of the federal government; a civil servant
stakeholder
a private citizen or others who will be affected by potential rules and regulations
injunction
an order that will stop an action or enforce a rule or regulation
client group
individuals and groups who work with a government agency and are most affected by its decisions
iron triangle
a relationship formed among government agencies, congressional committees, and client groups that work together
deregulate
to remove regulation
red tape
overly burdensome regulations and requirements
public policy
a plan of action adopted by government decision makers to solve a problem or reach a goal
landslide
a great majority of votes for one side
survey
a poll; a collection of data
generate
to produce; to be the cause of
political patronage
appointment to political office, usually as a reward for helping get a president elected
federal reserve system
the central banking system of the United States
ensure
to make sure, certain, or safe
executive agreement
legally-binding pact between the president and the head of a foreign government that does not require Senate approval
treaty
a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries
deny
to refuse to admit or acknowledge
national security
protection of a nation—its lands and people—from foreign threats, whether from governments, organized groups, or individual terrorists
reauthorize
the act of passing legislation into law again
military tribunal
a military court designed to try members of enemy forces during wartime, operating outside the scope of conventional criminal and civil proceedings
civilian
one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force
amnesty
a presidential order that pardons a group of people who have committed an offense against the government
reprieve
a presidential order that postpones legal punishment
pardon
a presidential order that releases a person from legal punishment
impound
to refuse to spend
executive order
a rule issued by the president that has the force of law
impeach
to accuse a public official of misconduct in office
executive privilege
the right of the president and other high-ranking executive officers to refuse to testify before Congress or a court
mandate
a formal order given by a higher authority; an authorization to act given to a representative
contemporary
happening, existing, living, or coming into being during the same period of time
inherent powers
powers not described in the Constitution, but that have been claimed by presidents
hearing
a session at which a committee listens to testimony from people interested in the bill
joint resolution
a resolution passed in the same form by both houses
simple resolution
a statement adopted to cover matters affecting only one house of Congress
rider
a provision included in a bill on a subject other than the one covered in the bill
veto
rejection of a bill by the president
tax
the money that people and businesses pay to support the activities of the government
appropriation
approval of government spending
consequence
something produced by a cause or action
continuing resolution
a resolution that keeps the government open and operating under previous levels of appropriation during times when the House and Senate are controlled by different parties and cannot agree on an appropriation bill
authorization bill
a bill that sets up a federal program and specifies how much money may be appropriated for the program
earmark
part of a funding bill that will go toward a certain purpose
entitlement
a required government expenditure that continues from one year to the next
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