Vocab

Question 1

Article

Answer 1

One of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution

Question 2

Jurisdiction

Answer 2

The authority of a court to rule on certain cases

Question 3

Supremacy Clause

Answer 3

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”

Question 4

Amendment

Answer 4

A change to the constitution

Question 5

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 5

Rule by the people

Question 6

Federalism

Answer 6

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Question 7

Separation of Powers

Answer 7

The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Question 8

Checks and Balances

Answer 8

The system where each branch of government exercises some control over the others

Question 9

Veto

Answer 9

Rejection of a bill

Question 10

Judicial Review

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Expressed powers

Answer 11

Powers directly stated in the Constitution

Question 12

Enumerated powers

Answer 12

The expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered

Question 13

Elastic clause

Answer 13

Clause in Article 1, 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 1

Question 14

Federal bureaucracy

Answer 14

Departments and agencies of the federal government- mostly the executive branch

Question 15

Ratify

Answer 15

To approve

Question 16

Petition

Answer 16

An appeal

Question 17

Balanced budget

Answer 17

Plan requiring that what the government spends will not exceed its income

Question 18

Impeach

Answer 18

To accuse a public official of misconduct in office

Question 19

Treaty

Answer 19

A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

Question 20

Executive agreement

Answer 20

An agreement made between the president and a head of state

Question 21

Judicial restraint

Answer 21

The philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions

Question 22

Judicial activism

Answer 22

The philosophy that the Supreme Court should play an active role in shaping national policies by addressing social and political issues

Question 23

Prior restraint

Answer 23

Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast

Question 24

Probable cause

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Search warrant

Answer 25

An order signed by a judge describing a specific place to be searched for specific items

Question 26

Arrest warrant

Answer 26

An order signed by a judge describing a specific place to be searched for specific items

Question 27

Due process of law

Answer 27

Principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals

Question 28

Eminent domain

Answer 28

The power of the government to take private property for public use

Question 29

Lame duck

Answer 29

An outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term, after retiring or being defeated for re-election

Question 30

Poll tax

Answer 30

Money paid in order to vote

Question 31

Delegated powers

Answer 31

Powers the Constitution grants or delegates to the national government

Question 32

Expressed powers

Answer 32

Powers directly stated in the Constitution

Question 33

Implied powers

Answer 33

Powers that the government requires to carry out the expressed constitutional powers

Question 34

Inherent powers

Answer 34

Powers that the national government may exercise simply because it is a government

Question 35

Reserved powers

Answer 35

Powers that belong strictly to the states

Question 36

Supremacy clause

Answer 36

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”

Question 37

Concurrent powers

Answer 37

Powers that both the national government and the states have

Question 38

Enabling act

Answer 38

The first step in the state admission procedure which enables the people of a territory to prepare a constitution

Question 39

Extradite

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Civil law

Answer 40

One relating to disputes among two or more individuals or between individuals and the government

Question 41

Interstate compact

Answer 41

A written agreement between two or more states

Question 42

States' rights position

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Nationalist position

Answer 43

A position that favors national action in dealing with problems

Question 44

Income tax

Answer 44

The tax levied on individual and corporate earnings

Question 45

Sunset law

Answer 45

A law that requires periodic checks of government agencies to see if they are still needed

Question 46

Sunshine law

Answer 46

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

Question 47

Bureaucracy

Answer 47

Government administrators

Question 48

Republicanism

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Limited government

Answer 49

A system in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute

Question 50

Individual rights

Answer 50

The rights needed by each individual to pursue their lives and goals without interference from other individuals or the government; the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness