We The People Unit 4 Vocab

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Delegate Theory

Back 1

The idea that a legislative representative should exactly mirror his or her constituents' views in deciding on public policy

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Enforcement Powers

Back 2

The power of congress to enforce laws

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Enumerated Powers

Back 3

Those rights and responsibilities of the US government specifically provided for and listed in the constitution

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Federalism

Back 4

A form of government in which power is divided and shared between a central government and state and local governments

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Gerrymandering

Back 5

Drawing boundaries of an electoral district to favor a political party

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Implied Powers

Back 6

Those powers autorizrd by a legal document that are not expressly stated but can be inferred from expressly stated powers. The power of congress to do all things "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers delegated tonit by Article I, Section 8, Claus 18 of the US constitution.

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Inherent Powers

Back 7

Those powers ingrained so deeply in an institution that they need not be stated.

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Trustee Theory of Representation

Back 8

The idea that a legislative representative should use his or her best judgment in making decisions on public policy, regardless of constituent opinion

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Bill

Back 9

A proposed law placed before a legislature for approval

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Cloture

Back 10

A role of the US Senate stipulating that Senate on a legislative proposal be cut off and the proposal voted upon by the full Senate if sixty members agree

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Filibuster

Back 11

The practice of refusing to surrender the floor during a debate to prevent the Senate from voting on a proposal

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Impeachment

Back 12

Changing a public official with a crime while in office and bringing him or her to trial. Convicted officials removed from office.

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Lobbying

Back 13

The practice of attempting to affect legislation by influencing legislatures .

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Pocket Veto

Back 14

A presidential practice that allows a bill to die if not signed within ten days and congress is adjorned. The president is conceived as keeping the bill in his pocket rather than taking it out and signing it.

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Power to Investigate

Back 15

The power of congress to undertake formal inquiries into matters of public business and public policy

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Resolution

Back 16

A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion out before or adopted by an assembly such as the US congress

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Seniority

Back 17

Length of service. In the US House of Representatives or the Senate, certain powers and responabilities of congressional members are granted on the basis of their time in office.

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Commander in Chief

Back 18

Highest ranked person of the military forces. According to the US constitution, the president is commander in chief of the nation's armed forces

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Executive Orders

Back 19

Directives issued by the president, including Presidential Directives, National Security Directives, and Holland Security Presidential Directives.

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Executive Power

Back 20

The autoritu to carry out and enforce the law

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Bureaucracy

Back 21

Governmental departments and agencies and their staffs, principally civil service members and political appointees

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Cabinet

Back 22

The group of advisors to the president composed of the heads of the departments of the executive branch and certain other officials.

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Civil Service

Back 23

Emplyment in federal, state or provincial and local government agiencies.

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Independent Agencies

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Administrative organizations located outside the structure of executive deparments

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Advisory Opinion

Back 25

In some judicial systems, a formal opinion on a point of law given by a judge or court when requested by a legislature if government official

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Appeal

Back 26

The bringing of a court case from a lower court to a higher court to in an attempt to have the lower courts decision reversed.

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Appellate Jurisdiction

Back 27

The legal authority of a court to hear appeals from a lower court

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Jurisdiction

Back 28

The power or authority to hear cases and make decisions

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Landmark decision

Back 29

A legalndecision that constitutes a turning point or stage

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Litigant

Back 30

A party involved in a lawsuit

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Meathods of Constitutional Interpretation

Back 31

Interperetive methods employed by the US supreme court justices when considering constitutionalnissues of some cases

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Original Jurisdiction

Back 32

In some cases, such as those in which a state is a party l, the supreme court has the right to consider the facts and the law in case without it is being first then passed by a lower court

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Writ of Certiorari

Back 33

A type of writ seeking judicial review of a legal decision

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Initiative

Back 34

A proposed law placed on the ballots of some states for voter decision.

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Local Government

Back 35

Government of a specific local area, such as state subdivisions authorised by states or governments of cities, counties and towns.

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Police Powers

Back 36

The inherent authority of a government to impose restrictions on private rights for the sake of a public welfare, order and security within the boundaries of Constitutional law.

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Recall

Back 37

A prices dog using special or general elections for removing elected officials from office

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Referendum

Back 38

placing a measure approved by a legislature on a ballot for popular approval

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Reserved Powers

Back 39

Those powers referred to in the ninth and tenth amendments that are reserved to the status of the people