U.S. Government Terms
U.S. Government Terms Mayflower Compact • Agreement signed by Pilgrims before landing at Plymouth in 1620 landing at Plymouth in 1620
To help protect y our privacy , PowerPoint prevented this external picture from being automatically downloaded. To download and display this picture, click Options in the Message Bar, and then click Enable external content. Declaration of Independence • Written in 1776 by Jefferson • Stated that colonies were free and independent of Britain • Based on ideas of John Locke
Based on ideas of John Locke Articles of Confederation • First plan of government • Set up a weak central government • Replaced by Constitution Replaced by Constitution
Great Compromise • The plan for a 2 house legislature that settled differences between large and small states over representation in Congress 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 U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787
Legislative Power Legislative Power
• Lawmaking power Executive Power • Power of the executive branch to carry out
Power of the executive branch to carry out laws Judicial Power • Power of judicial branch to interpret laws
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
Power of people to vote for their leaders Federalism • A system of government in which authority is divided between national and state is divided between national and state
governments Delegated powers • Powers given by the Constitution to the national government and denied to state national government and denied to state
governments Reserved Powers • Those powers held by the states in the
Those powers held by the states in the federal system Concurrent Powers • Powers shared by the national and state
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” 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 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 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 ). powers (Article I, Section 8 ).
Amendment • A change to the Constitution
A change to the Constitution Electoral College • Assembly elected by voters to formally
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 executive branches
Unwritten Constitution • Political practices that are not part of the
Political practices that are not part of the Constitution – Cabinet system – Political parties Cabinet • A group of people chosen by the president
A group of people chosen by the president to be advisors To help protect y our privacy , PowerPoint prevented this external picture from being automatically downloaded. To download and display this picture, click Options in the Message Bar, and then click Enable external content. Political Parties • Groups that seek to control the government through the winning of elections and holding public office holding public office
Bill of Rights • 1 st 10 Amendments to the Constitution • Deals mostly with civil rights (liberties) • • • • • • • • • • st 1 Freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly nd 2 The right to bear arms and form a militia rd 3 No quartering of soldiers in private houses during peace time i.e. No Declaration of War has been announced th 4 Searches and seizures; warrants th 5 Due process; Self­incrimination; Double jeopardy (Can't be tried for the same crime twice) incrimination; Double jeopardy (Can't be tried for the same crime twice) th 6 Rights of the accused, Right to a speedy public trial th 7 Right to trial by jury in civil cases th 8 No excessive bail & fines or cruel & unusual punishment th 9 Unemunerated rights (i.e., rights not listed) retained by the people th 10 Powers reserved to the states or to the people
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
unreasonable action Equal Protection Rights • A right guaranteed under the 14 th 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 process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws.