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16 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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natural law
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law that defines right from wrong; higher than human law
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separation of powers
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constitutional division of powers among 3 brances of government
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checks and balances
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constitutional grant of powers that enables the 3 branches to "check" one another
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autocracy
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system in which one person has control over population; one person rules with unlimited power
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unified government
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when the same party controls both the white house and both houses of congress
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divided government
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when one party controls Congress and the other controls the presidency
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partisanship
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strong allegiance to one's own political party; leads to unwillingness to compromise with members of opposing parties
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judicial review
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the power of a court to review law or governmental regulations to determine whether they are consistent with the US Constituion, or in a state court, with a state constitution
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writ of mandamus
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a court order directing an official to perform an official duty
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congressional elaboration
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congressional legislation that gives further meaning to the constitution based on sometimes vague constitutional authority
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impeachment
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a formal accusation by the lower house of a legislature against a public official; first step in removal from office
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executive order
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a directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law; subject to judicial review
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executive privilege
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the power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security
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impoundment
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presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Cogress authorized and appropriated
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originalist approach
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an approach to constitutional interpretation that envisions the document as having a fixed meaning that might be determined by a strict reading of the text or the framers' intent
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adaptive approach
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a method used to interpret the Constitution that understands the doxument to be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the times
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