Definitions
Term for the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
What is separation of powers?
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
What are the three branches of government?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution.
What are the Bill of Rights?
This is set up by Article I of the Constitution.
What is the legislative branch (or Congress)?
The president's power to reject a bill proposed by Congress.
What is a veto?
The principle that each branch of government can exercise control over the others.
What is checks and balances?
Interprets the law
What is the Judicial Branch (or Supreme Court)?
What is the First Amendment?
These two bodies made up our Congress.
What is the Senate and House of Representatives.
The power to control all revenue (money) bills lies with this body.
What is the House of Representatives?
Principle that power is divided between the national and state governments.
What is federalism?
Made up of the President, Vice President, and Cabinet.
What is the Executive Branch?
The amendment that requires police to get a warrant before conducting searches and seizures.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
This Constitutional idea insures that the laws are applied equally to all citizens, whether you are an average worker or the President.
What is the rule of law?
A formal accusation of misconduct against an elected official.
What is impeachment?
Principle that the Constitution specifically lists the powers the government has and doesn't have, thus restricting the actions the government can take.
What is limited government?
The term for the powers given to Congress, which are directly stated word for word in the Constitution (Article 1 Section 8).
What are Expressed Powers?
The amendment that reserves power to the states and helps establish federalism.
What is the 10th Amendment?
These three words make up the Preamble to the Constitution.
What is "We the People"?
Group charged with holding a trial and deciding whether or not to remove an impeached president from office.
What is the Senate?
Principle that the people rule.
What is popular sovereignty?
The clause that gives Congress the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper (Article 1 Section 8 Clause 18).
What is the elastic clause or necessary and proper clause?
*Sets up implied powers
The term for all the steps the government must take before you can be deprived of life, liberty, or property, which is discussed in the 5th Amendment.
What is due process of law?
These requirements make up the formal Constitutional qualifications to be on the Supreme Court.
What is "none" or no formal requirements?
The Supreme Court's power to declare laws passed by Congress as unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?