Politics In States And Communities Ch2

Front 1

Limited Government

Back 1

The principle that government power over the individual is limited, that there are some personal liberties that even a majority cannot regulate, and that government itself is retrained by law.

Front 2

Constitutionalism

Back 2

A government of laws, not people, operating on the principle that governmental power must be limited, that government officials should be retrained in their exercise of power over individuals.

Front 3

Constitution

Back 3

The legal structure establishing governmental bodies, granting their powers, determining how their members are selected, and prescribing the rules by which they make their decisions. Considered basic or fundamental, a constitution cannot be changed by ordinary acts of governmental bodes.

Front 4

Colonial Charters

Back 4

Documents granted to American colonies by English kings establishing governments; fostered the American tradition of written constitutions.

Front 5

Bill of Rights

Back 5

In state constitutions, written protections for basic freedoms; most resemble the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution but some extend these rights.

Front 6

Separation of Powers

Back 6

The constitutional allocation of powers among the three branches of the state government: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Front 7

Checks and Balances

Back 7

Constitutional provisions giving each branch of state government certain checks over of other branches.

Front 8

Bicameral

Back 8

A legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses.

Front 9

Homestead

Back 9

An owner-occupied home; many states grant tax breaks to this type of property.

Front 10

Legislative Proposal

Back 10

The state legislature places a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voter approval.

Front 11

Popular initiative

Back 11

Registered voters sign a petition to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voter approval.

Front 12

Democracy

Back 12

Popular participation in government. (The Greek root of the word means "rule by the many.")

Front 13

Representational Democracy

Back 13

Popular participation in government through the selection of public officials by vote of the people in periodic, competitive elections in which candidates and voters can freely express themselves.

Front 14

Direct Democracy

Back 14

Popular participation in government through direct voter initiation of policy (usually by petition) and voter approval or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.

Front 15

Initiative

Back 15

A device by which a specific number or percentage of the voters may petition to have a constitutional amendment or law placed on the ballot for adoption or rejection by the electorate; found in some state constitutions but not in the U.S. Constitution.

Front 16

Referenda

Back 16

Proposed laws or constitutional amendments submitted to the voters for their direct approval or rejection; found in some state constitutions but not in the U.S. Constitution.

Front 17

Recall

Back 17

An election to allow voters to decide whether or not to remove an elected official before his or her term expires.

Front 18

Proposition 13

Back 18

A constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes passed by California voters; has come to symbolize tax revolts.

Front 19

Eminent Domain

Back 19

Government's condemnation (taking) of private property for public use; landowner must be compensated.

Front 20

Term Limits

Back 20

Constitutional limits on the number of terms or the number of years that a public official can serve in the same office.