Final Vocab

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

1. 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