USGE Unit 1, YGK: Constitutional Anatomy

federalism

a system of government in which two or more governments exercise power over the same people and the same territory

delegated powers

powers the Constitution grants or delegates to the national government

expressed powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

implied powers

powers the government requires to carry out its expressed constitutional powers

reserved powers

powers that belong strictly to the states

concurrent powers

powers that both the national government and the states have

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"

enabling act

an act that allows the people of a territory interested in becoming a state to prepare a constitution

federal grant

a sum of money given to a state or local government for a specific purpose

mandate

a formal order given by a higher authority

restraint

an act that limits a state's ability to regulate an area

preemption

the federal government's ability to take over a state government function

extradite

to return a fugitive who flees across state lines back to the original state

interstate compact

a written agreement between two or more states

public policy

the stated course of action the government takes to address problems or issues

sunset law

a law that requires periodic checks of laws or of government agencies to see if they are still needed

sunshine law

a law prohibiting public officials from holding meetings not open to the public

states' rights position

a position that favors state and local action in dealing with problems

nationalist position

a position that favors national action in dealing with problems

article

one of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution

amendment

A change to the Constitution

enumerated powers

a list of items, found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, that set forth the authoritative capacity of Congress

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

jurisdiction

the limits or territory within which authority may be exercised

judicial review

the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

convention

a meeting held for the purpose of proposing and voting on amendments

repeal

to revoke by legislative enactment

incorporation doctrine

the adding of the Bill of Rights protections into the states through court decisions

militias

local group of armed citizens

probable cause

a reasonable basis to believe a person or premises is linked to a crime

eminent domain

Power of a government to take private property for public use.

impeach

to formally accuse

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"

anarchy

a state without government and laws

government

an institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the people under its control

nation

a group of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes religion

state

a political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government

sovereignty

the supreme and absolute authority within territorial boundaries

divine right

the idea that people are chosen by a god or gods to rule

social contract

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 national 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

constitutional government

a government in which a constitution has authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern

authoritarian

controlling all aspects of citizens' economic, political, and social lives (In class we clarified that these governments may be informally checked by other groups)

totalitarian

a system of government in which the government has total control (In class we clarified that these governments are not checked by other institutions and usually destroy other institutions)

dictatorship

a system of government in which power is in the hands of one person who has total control

oligarchy

a system of government in which a small group holds power

monarchy

a system of government in which a king, queen, or emperor exercises supreme powers of government

democracy

government in which the people rule

republic

a government in which voters hold sovereign power; elected representatives, responsible to the people, exercise that power

economics

the study of how people and nations use their limited resources in attempt to satisfy wants and needs

capitalism

an economic system that emphasizes freedom of choice and individual incentive

free market

an economic system in which buyers and sellers make free choices in the marketplace

free enterprise

the opportunity to control one's own economic decisions

laissez

faire

mixed economy

a system in which the government regulates private enterprise

socialism

an economic system in which the government owns the basic means of production, distributes the products and wages, and provides social services such as health care and welfare

democratic socialist

a socialist who is committed to democracy but wants government involvement in the distribution of wealth

command economy

an economic system in which the government controls the factors of production

bourgeoise

capitalists who own the means of production

proletariat

workers who produce the goods

communism

an economic system in which the central government directs all major economic decisions

limited government

the idea that a government's power is not absolute and there are certain actions a government cannot legally take

representative government

a government in which people elect delegates to make laws and conduct government

charter

a written document from the authorities of a society granting rights or privileges

revenue

the money a government collects from taxes or other sources

embargo

an agreement prohibiting trade

boycott

an organized campaign to refuse to buy certain products

human rights

rights that are believed to belong justifiably to every person

unicameral

A single

currency

a system of money in general use in a particular country.

tariff

a tax on imported goods

creditor

A person to whom money is owed

treaty

a formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.

bicameral

Two house legislature

interstate comerce

trade between states

extralegal

not allowed by law

The Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States

Constitution

A written plan of government with limits on what a government can and cannot legally do

Bill of Rights

A document listing certain protections that citizens have from governmental action

Virginia Plan

A proposed constitution where representation was based on state population

New Jersey Plan

A proposed constitution where representation was equal for all states

List of Grievances

The section of the Declaration of Independence listing reasons for revolution against the monarchy

Declaration of Independence

Statement issued by the Second Continental Congress

Second Continental Congress

Group that organized the continental Army and appointed the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence

First Continental Congress

Delagates from all colonies except georgia met to discuss problems with britain and to promote independence

Shays' Rebellion

The event which led many Americans to want a stronger national government

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates who wanted a strong national government

Anti

Federalists

Article I

Defines Congress, its powers and its structure

Article I, Section 8

Specific listing of Congressional powers, including the necessary and proper clause

Article II

Defines the presidency, its powers and its duties

Article III

Defines the jurisdiction of a judicial branch and promises lifetime appointments for federal judges

Article IV

Defines the relationship between states including the full faith and credit clause and the privileges and immunities clause

Article V

Defines the process for amending the Constitution

Article VI

Includes the supremacy clause which establishes the Constitution as the highest law of the land

Article VII

Defines how the Constitution was to be ratified

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.