The Founding
number of amendments to the U.S. Constitution that have been ratified
27
a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments
federalism
a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses
bicameral legislature
a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation
executive order
America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789
Articles of Confederation
mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the Senate's power to approve presidential appointments, and the Supreme Court's power of judicial review of congressional enactments
checks and balances
those who favored a strong national government and supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787
Federalists
appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win re-election in their home districts
pork barrel (or pork)
specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II)
expressed powers
a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government
confederation
the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people
Bill of Rights
those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787
Antifederalists
the concluding paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the Necessary and Proper Clause), which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its enumerated powers
Elastic Clause
the role of the president as commander of the national military and the state National Guard units (when called into service)
commander in chief
the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population
Great Compromise
the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision-making
separation of powers
authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes
concurrent powers
the chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
a presidential veto that is automatically triggered if the president does not act on a given piece of legislation passed during the final 10 days of a legislative session
pocket veto
the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of apportioning congressional seats only three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted
Three-Fifths Compromise
a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting ratification of the Constitution
Federalist Papers
provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state
Full Faith and Credit Clause
a tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down; once given the floor, senators have unlimited time to speak, and it requires a vote of three-fifths of the Senate to end it
filibuster
the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the consent of the president
executive privilege
the power of the courts to review actions of the legislative and executive branches and, if necessary, declare them invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803)
judicial review