Magruder's American Government Chapter 3

Front 1

Preamble

Back 1

Introduction.

Front 2

articles

Back 2

Numbered sections of a document. The unamended Constitution is divided into seven articles.

Front 3

constitutionalism

Back 3

Basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law.

Front 4

rule of law

Back 4

Concept that holds that government and its officers are always subject to the law.

Front 5

separation of powers

Back 5

Basic principle of American system of goverment, that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government.

Front 6

checks and balances

Back 6

System of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others.

Front 7

veto

Back 7

Cheif executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature; literally (Latin) "I forbid".

Front 8

judicial review

Back 8

The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action.

Front 9

unconstitutional

Back 9

Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect.

Front 10

federalism

Back 10

A system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments.