Consitution
What are the checks and balances?
each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks or restraints by the other branches
what is Shay's Rebellion?
A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.
Define Sovereignty
supreme or ultimate political authority
What can the legislative branch do as a check and balance?
Approves presidential nomination and controls the budget. It can veto and impeach any presidential actions.
Confirms presidential nomination. Can impeach judgest and remove them from the office.
What are Express powers & Implied powers
Expressed powers are powers specifically given by the constitution.
Implied powers are powers not specifically given by the constitution, but the government needs.
What is the Bill of Rights?
first 10 amendments of the constitution
What are factions?
Interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper No. 10. Today's parties or interest groups are what Madison had in mind when he warned of the instability caused by factions.
define interstate commerce
commerce between two or more states which can be regulated by the federal government
What can the executive branch do as a check and balance?
Nominates Judges
Can veto congressional legislation
What are Inherent Powers
Powers that the government specifically needs.
How do you add another amendment?
may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.
Anti-Federalists, define them
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
What is the Supremacy Clause
Article VI, three items are listed: the constitution, laws of the national government and treaties (advocates of federal rights)
Judicial Branch Checks and balances
The court can declare presidential acts unconstitutionally
Can declare laws unconstitutional
What is the Commerce clause?
The specific power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States
What is the Great Compromise?
The Connecticut Compromise was an agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787
Federalists, define them
Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.
What are Enumerated Powers
The powers explicitly are given to Congress in the Constitution.
Federalism
Governmental power is shared by the national and state governments
America uses federalism
Full faith and credit clause
that states within the United States have to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state." According to the Supreme Court
What is the Articles of Confederation? Why was it bad?
A constitution drafted by the newly independent states in 1777 and ratified in 1781.
The federal government wasn't able to tax the States.
What is a Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
What is Fiscal Federalism
the pattern of spending, taxing and providing grants in the federal system.
what are Concurrent Powers
Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.
Interstate privileges: Extradition & Interstate compacts
Extradition- Criminals will be convicted in the state that they committed it in
Privileges of the constitution according to that a citizen of one state is entitled to the privileges in another state
interstate compacts- An interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states of the United States of America without the consent of congress