U.S. Government Terms

Mayflower Compact

• Agreement signed by Pilgrims before landing at Plymouth in 1620

Declaration of Independence

• Written in 1776 by Jefferson

• Stated that colonies were free and independent of Britain

• Based on ideas of John Locke

Articles of Confederation

• First plan of government

• Set up a weak central government

• Replaced by Constitution

Great Compromise

• The plan for a 2 house legislature that settled differences between large and small states over representation in Congress

Constitution

• A body of laws setting out the basic principles, structures, process and functions of government

• U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787

Legislative Power

• Lawmaking power

                                                                                          

Executive Power

• Power of the executive branch to carry out laws

Judicial Power

• Power of judicial branch to interpret laws

Popular Sovereignty

• Basic principle that the people are the only source of any and all government power

• Power of people to vote for their leaders

Federalism

• A system of government in which authority is divided between national and state governments

Delegated powers

• Powers given by the Constitution to the national government and denied to state governments

Reserved Powers

• Those powers held by the states in the federal system

Concurrent Powers

• Powers shared by the national and state governments

Supremacy Clause

• Section of Constitution which makes it and federal laws the “Supreme law of the land”

Separation of Powers

• The principle that gives the powers of making, enforcing, and interpreting laws to separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Checks and Balances

• System in which each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the other branches

                                      

                      

Elastic Clause

• Basis for the implied powers of Congress

• a statement in the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers (Article I, Section 8 ).

Amendment

• A change to the Constitution

                                                               

Electoral College

• Assembly elected by voters to formally elect the president

Judicial Review

• Power of Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of acts of legislative and executive branches

Unwritten Constitution

• Political practices that are not part of the Constitution– Cabinet system– Political parties

                                                           

Cabinet

• A group of people chosen by the president to be advisors

Political Parties

• Groups that seek to control the government through the winning of elections and holding public office

               

Bill of Rights

• 1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution

• Deals mostly with civil rights (liberties)• 1st Freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly

• 2nd The right to bear arms and form a militia

• 3rd No quartering of soldiers in private houses during peace time i.e. No Declaration of War has

been announced

• 4th Searches and seizures; warrants

• 5th Due process; Self-incrimination; Double jeopardy (Can't be tried for the same crime twice)

• 6th Rights of the accused, Right to a speedy public trial

• 7th Right to trial by jury in civil cases

• 8th No excessive bail & fines or cruel & unusual punishment

• 9th Unemunerated rights (i.e., rights not listed) retained by the people

• 10th Powers reserved to the states or to the people

Due Process Rights

• Constitutional guarantee that government will not deprive any person of life, liberty or property by any unfair, arbitrary, or unreasonable action

Equal Protection Rights

• A right guaranteed under the 14th Amendment

• No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.