Federalism in Action
Federalism divides power between these two levels of government.
What are the National and State governments?
Checks and balances ensure that no branch of government becomes too what?
What is powerful?
Separation of powers divides the government into these three branches.
What are the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches?
This is the "Rule Book" for our government and sets up the structure for our government.
What is the US Constitution?
In a system based on popular sovereignty, citizens do this to express their political power.
What is voting?
Both the federal and state governments have the power to collect this from citizens.
What are taxes?
Congress can override this action by the President with a two-thirds vote in both houses.
What is a veto?
This branch of government has the power to make laws.
What is the Legislative Branch?
The rule of law means that everyone, including leaders, must follow these.
What are laws?
This event, held every four years, allows Americans to choose their leader, showing popular sovereignty in action.
What is the presidential election?
Under federalism, states have the power to run these public institutions where children receive education.
What are schools?
Congress can check the President by removing them from office through this process.
What is impeachment?
The executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for doing this with laws.
What is enforcing (or carrying out) laws?
In a system based on the rule of law, even this person, the head of the U.S. executive branch, must follow the law.
Who is the President?
This key phrase in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution reflects the principle of popular sovereignty.
What is "We the People"
This clause in the U.S. Constitution says that federal laws are the "supreme law of the land."
What is the Supremacy Clause?
Congress (the Senate) must approve these international agreements made by the President.
What is a treaty?
The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets these.
What are laws (or the Constitution)?
If someone commits a crime, the rule of law ensures they receive this type of hearing before being punished.
What is a trial?
Popular sovereignty means that the government’s power comes from this group.
What are the people?
This amendment protects state power by saying powers not given to the federal government belong to the states.
What is the 10th Amendment?
The Supreme Court can use this power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.
What is Judicial Review?
The President nominates judges, but this branch must approve them.
What is the legislative branch (or Senate)?
The rule of law ensures that no one can be punished without being given this first.
What is due process?
Popular sovereignty is a key principle in this type of government, where people elect their leaders.
What is a democracy (or republic)?