Unit 1 Vocab

Question 1

Checks and Balances

Answer 1

Allows each branch of government to amend or veto acts of another branch to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power

Question 2

Commerce Clause

Answer 2

Gives Congress the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.”

Question 3

Electoral College

Answer 3

The number of electors each state gets is equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives. A total of 538 electors form the Electoral College. Each elector casts one vote following the general election. The candidate who gets 270 votes or more wins.

Question 4

Elite Democracy

Answer 4

A political system in which elites acquire the power to rule as they see fit

Question 5

Enumerated Powers

Answer 5

Powers expressly granted to the Federal government by the Constitution

Question 6

Extradition

Answer 6

One jurisdiction delivers a person accused or convicted of committing a crime in another jurisdiction, over to the other jurisdiction

Question 7

Federalism

Answer 7

The same territory is controlled by two levels of government. State and Federal governments go hand in hand

Question 8

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 8

Requires states to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of the other states court.

Question 9

Grand Committee

Answer 9

The constitutional convention; representatives from each of the former colonies, except Rhode Island, helped frame the Constitution

Question 10

Great Compromise

Answer 10

states have equal representation in one house by the legislature and representation based on population in the House or Representatives

Question 11

Impeachment

Answer 11

Formal accusation against a president or other public official, the first step in removal from office

Question 12

Judicial Review

Answer 12

The power of the court to rule on the constitutionality of laws, acts, statues, executive order

Question 13

National Supremacy

Answer 13

state judges must follow federal law when a conflict arises between federal law and the state law of any state

Question 14

Natural Law

Answer 14

society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature and can be understood by reason. Life, Liberty, and property- John Locke. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness- Under Jefferson.

Question 15

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 15

Allows Congress to pass laws, where the constitution doesn’t give it authority to act, that they believe are necessary in order to perform their responsibilities

Question 16

Participatory Democracy

Answer 16

Citizens participate individually and directly in political decisions and policies that affect their lives, rather than through elected representatives

Question 17

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 17

A political system where there is more than one center of power, power is dispersed

Question 18

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 18

government is created by and subject to the will of the people

Question 19

Representative Republic

Answer 19

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws

Question 20

Reserved Powers

Answer 20

All powers not specifically delegated by the Federal government, reserved for the state governments

Question 21

Separation of Powers

Answer 21

Division of government responsibilities into branches limiting each branch from exercising the functions of another. Prevents concentration of power and provides checks and balances

Question 22

Social Contract

Answer 22

Agreement between a government and the people, the people consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural right

Question 23

Supremacy Clause

Answer 23

Makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits

Question 24

3/5 Compromise

Answer 24

Agreement that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives

Question 25

USA Patriot Act

Answer 25

Strengthens the federal government’s power to conduct surveillance, perform searches, and detain individuals in order to combat terrorism

Question 26

Block Grants

Answer 26

A large sum of money offered to the states by the federal government without a specified purpose

Question 27

Categorical Grants

Answer 27

A large sum of money offered to the states with particular Congressional guidelines or requirements

Question 28

Compact Theory

Answer 28

The theory that states came together to form the nation.

Question 29

Concurrent Powers

Answer 29

Powers that are held by both the state and federal government

Question 30

Cooperative Federalism

Answer 30

The intermingled relationships among the national, state and local governments to deliver services to citizens

Question 31

Delegated Powers

Answer 31

Powers that the states have delegated to the federal government

Question 32

Dual Federalism

Answer 32

National and state governments remain supreme in their own spheres

Question 33

Grants-in-aid

Answer 33

General term for money or other resources given by congress to state and local governments

Question 34

Implied Powers

Answer 34

Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but derived in the elastic clause

Question 35

Mandates

Answer 35

Order from the federal government that all state and local governments must follow

Question 36

Marble Cake Federalism

Answer 36

Characterized by the federal government becoming more intrusive in what were originally states’ powers

Question 37

Nullification

Answer 37

The right to declare null and void any federal law if a state thought it violated the Constitution

Question 38

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Answer 38

A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states.

Question 39

Strict Constructionist

Answer 39

Black and white interpretation of the constitution.

Question 40

Unitary Government

Answer 40

single governing authority in a central capital with uniform law throughout the land.