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Fundamental law
The law which determines the constitution of government in a nation or state, and prescribes and regulates the manner of its exercise. The organic law of a nation or state; its constitution. The Constitution is a contract of delegated powers.
Codified Constitution
A constitution that consists of a full and authoritative set of rules written down in a single text
Limited Government
How is the constitution rigid?
Notoriously difficult amendment process. First a bill must be passed in both houses of Congress with a super-majority of two-thirds. Then it goes to the states, where three-quarters of state legislatures must approve it. Thus it is very difficult to get an amendment proposed, hence why there have only been twenty seven successful attempts to amend the US constitution in over 200 years. The first 10 amendments being the bill of rights.
Checks and Balances
A system of government in which each branch- the legislative, executive and judicial- exercises control over the actions of other branches of government.
Federalism
A theory of government whereby political power is distributed among three branches of government- Legislature, Executive and Judiciary- acting both independently of and interdependently. AS applied to the US government, the theory is better understood as one of 'Shared powers'. It is the institution of government that are separate, while the powers are shared through an elaborate series of checks and balances.
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