Founding
In Federalist 63, Madison argued that this institution would help protect liberty because its members served longer terms and were less directly tied to popular elections.
What is the Senate?
Anti-Federalists were especially concerned that this level of government would lose power under the Constitution.
What is the state level?
This person presides over the House and has substantial control over its agenda and committees.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
This presidential power allows the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.
What is the veto?
This theory holds that the meaning of the Constitution should generally remain tied to its original public meaning rather than evolve with changing times.
What is Originalism?
This compromise was added to the Constitution to address Anti-Federalist concerns about protecting individual liberties.
What is the Bill of Rights?
When both national and state governments have authority to perform a particular governmental function, that authority is referred to as this.
What are concurrent powers?
This clause allows Congress to enact laws necessary to carry out its specifically listed powers.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
The president exercises this power when forgiving someone convicted of a federal crime.
What is the pardon power?
This term refers to the judiciary's ability to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional and strike them down.
What is judicial review?
These ancient Roman political thinkers helped influence the Founders' ideas about divided government and checks on power.
Who are Polybius and Cicero?
This constitutional provision requires the federal government to guarantee each state a republican form of government.
What is the Guarantee Clause?
When the House and Senate approve different versions of a bill, members of this type of committee work out a compromise.
What is a conference committee?
This person acts as president of the Senate and can break a tie when the chamber is split 50-50 on a vote.
Who is the Vice President?
This type of court is usually the first federal court to hear a case.
What is a U.S. District Court?
This group argued that the Necessary and Proper Clause could allow Congress to exercise powers beyond what was expressly listed in the Constitution.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
This concept describes the states' broad authority to regulate health, safety, morals, and welfare.
What are police powers?
This Senate procedure requires 60 votes to bring extended debate to an end.
What is cloture?
Under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, the vice president and a majority of this group can declare that the president is unfit to perform the duties of the office.
What is the President's Cabinet?
Federal courts generally have authority over cases arising under these two broad categories/sources of law.
What are the U.S. Constitution and federal law?
According to Locke, people surrender these two rights when entering into a social contract with government.
What are the right to judge disputes and the right to punish?
A state court judgment being recognized and enforced by another state is required by this constitutional clause.
What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?
After a committee studies a bill, the process of debating and revising it within the committee is known by this term.
What is markup?
This constitutional clause directs the president to make sure that federal laws are faithfully carried out.
What is the Take Care Clause?
Most cases reaching the Supreme Court come from these two types of lower court.
What are U.S. Courts of Appeals and state supreme courts?