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70 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Enumerated Powers |
Powers that are set aside for the federal government according to the Constitution |
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Override |
The Congress's power to overturn the presidents veto (almost never happen) |
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Elastic Clause |
Congress can make all laws necessary and proper carry out their duty |
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Concurrent powers |
Powers given to both the states and federal government according to the Constitution |
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Reserved powers |
Powers reserved for the stated by the Constitution |
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Supremacy clause |
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and everyone must obey it |
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Federalist |
Supporters of the Constitution |
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Anti-Federalist |
Those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution |
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Popular Sovreignty |
The notion the power lies with the people |
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Third party |
A party that challenges the two major parties in government |
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Caucus |
A meeting of political party members to conduct party business |
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Electorate |
All the people who are eligible to vote |
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Platform |
A series of principles expressing a party's beliefs and positions on issues |
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Eminent domain |
The government has the right to seize your property, but only if the reimburse you for it |
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Due process |
Following established legal procedures |
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Split ticket |
When a person votes for people from both political parties, not just the one they are affiliated with |
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Straight ticket |
When a person votes for only people from one political party |
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Indicted |
A formal charge by a grand jury |
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Gerrymandering |
Redrawing a states district lines to favor one political party over another |
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Grassroots |
When the people rise up to make a change in government |
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Suffrage |
The right to vote |
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Bicameral |
A legislature consisting of two parts or houses |
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Franking privilege |
The right of senators and representatives to send job related mail without paying for postage |
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Lobbyist |
A representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making |
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Impeach |
To accuse government officials of misconduct in office |
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Cloture |
A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate in a bull (requires 2/3 vote) |
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Standing committee |
A permanent committee that continues its work from session to session in congress |
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Pigeonhole |
When an issue is "placed on the back burner" (can become a law if ignored long enough) |
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Filibuster |
A tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bills sponsor withdraws it |
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Party whip |
"Whips" party members into shape and gets the m to vote on bills for the party |
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Treaty |
A formal agreement between two or more countries |
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Pardon |
A declaration of freedom and forgiveness from punishment |
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Foreign policy |
A nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations |
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Cabinet |
A group of advisors to the president that includes the heads of 15 top level executive departments |
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Executive order |
A comand that carries the force of a law |
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Executive agreement |
An agreement between the president and the ruler of another country |
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Merit system |
hiring people into government jobs based on their qualifications |
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Spoils system |
Rewarding people with government jobs in the basis of their political support |
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Judicial review |
The supreme court's right to declare laws unconstitutional |
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Remand |
When a case is sent back to a lower court |
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Direct democracy |
A form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand |
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Federalism |
A form of government in which the power is divided between federal and state government |
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10th amendment |
All powers not given to the federal government are left up to the states |
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14th amendment |
1 equal protection under the law 2. Due process 3. Former slaves are now citizens |
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Casework |
The work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem |
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Alportionment |
The number of Representatives assigned to a state according to population |
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War powers act |
President can order troops into battle for a period of 60 days, but after that Congress must decide whether they stay or come back home |
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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution |
Gave president LBJ a blank check to fight the Vietnam War |
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Precedent |
A supreme court's ruling on a case that is used to determine future court rulings |
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Writ of habeas corpus |
The right to know why you are being arrested |
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Natural Rights |
Rights that every person is born with, right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness |
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Plessy v. Ferguson |
Established separate but equal policy |
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Brown v. Board of Education |
Struck down separate but equal policy |
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Constituents |
The people who elect lawmakers |
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Appropriations |
Bills having to do with money |
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Poll tax |
Forcing people to pay to vote |
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Bill of rights |
The first ten amendments to the Constitution |
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Great compromise |
An agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation |
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3/5 compromise |
An agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as 3/5 of other persons in determining representation in congress |
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New Jersey plan |
A plan for Congress that was based in equal representation |
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Virginia Plan |
A plan for congressional representation that was based on a states population |
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Articles of Confederation |
The original Constitution, which had a very weak federal government |
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Marbury v. Madison |
Gives the supreme court the right of judicial review |
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Representative democracy |
A system of government in which citizens choose a smaller group if people to govern on their behalf |
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Photo Op |
When political candidates do good deeds so that everyone can see and they will get reelected |
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Interest groups |
Organizations of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions |
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State of the Union |
A speech that the president makes about the state of the country and what they plan to do about it |
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Limited government |
The government gets its power from the people |
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Mayflower compact |
A document written by the men aboard the Mayflower agree g how they would run things in the New World |
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House of Burgesses |
America's original Congress, which had very little influence in Britain |
