Printable Introduction to the System of Government flash cards
37 words
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| adjourn |
to suspend a meeting to a future time, another place or indefinitely |
| allegiance |
loyalty of a citizen to the government |
| amendment |
alteration to a motion, bill or constitution |
| anti-federalist |
supporter of the Anti-Federal party, opponent of federalism and the Constitution |
| balance of power |
distribution of forces so that no single nation is strong enough to dominate the others |
| bill of rights |
statement of the fundamental rights of people in the Constitution as Amendments 1 10 |
| cabinet |
advisory body to the president formed by heads of the executive departments |
| capitalism |
economic system in which individuals and corporations invest means of production |
| checks and balances |
limits on branches of government giving each the right to amend some acts of the other |
| citizen |
native or naturalized member of a nation who owes it loyalty and is entitled to its protection |
| clause |
provision in a legal written document |
| commerce clause |
clause empowering Congress to regulate interstate and international commerce |
| compromise |
agreement or settlement of differences by mutual concessions |
| constitutional convention |
1787 convention in Philadelphia where the former Colonies' representatives framed the Constitution |
| delegate |
person designated to act for another |
| democracy |
government in which power is vested in the people and exercised by them or their elected agents |
| executive |
person supreme power of a government or administrative branch of government |
| expressed powers |
powers given to the government which are specifically outlined in the Constitution |
| federalism |
principle calling for a federal system of government |
| federalist |
advocate of federalism or a supporter of the Federalist party and Constitution |
| government |
system of rule, political direction and control over the inhabitants of societies and states |
| implied power |
powers not written in the Constitution but derived from it to carry out expressed powers |
| judicial branch |
court system which interprets laws enacted by the legislative branch |
| law |
regulations established by a nation's authority and applicable to its people |
| legislature |
branch of government in which a body of persons is empowered to make, change, and repeal laws |
| monarchy |
state where the supreme power is a sole and absolute ruler |
| necessary and proper clause |
clause in the Constitution allowing Congress to pass laws needed to enforce its specified powers |
| oath |
affirmed statement to speak the truth or keep a promise |
| political |
seeking power in the governmental affairs of a state |
| popular sovereignty |
doctrine saying those who govern must exercise power that conforms to the people's will |
| preamble |
introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution which sets the principles of American government |
| ratify |
to confirm by expressing consent, approval or formal sanction |
| republic |
state in which power rests with citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by their representatives |
| reserved power |
powers not expressly delegated to the federal government nor expressly prohibited to the states |
| separation of powers |
doctrine stating the three branches of government shouldn't infringe on each other's powers |
| sovereign |
ruler who has authority or a state with sovereign authority |
| veto |
power of one branch of government to cancel decisions or enactments of another branch |
| adjourn |
to suspend a meeting to a future time, another place or indefinitely |
| allegiance |
loyalty of a citizen to the government |
| amendment |
alteration to a motion, bill or constitution |
| anti-federalist |
supporter of the Anti-Federal party, opponent of federalism and the Constitution |
| balance of power |
distribution of forces so that no single nation is strong enough to dominate the others |
| bill of rights |
statement of the fundamental rights of people in the Constitution as Amendments 1 10 |
| cabinet |
advisory body to the president formed by heads of the executive departments |
| capitalism |
economic system in which individuals and corporations invest means of production |
| checks and balances |
limits on branches of government giving each the right to amend some acts of the other |
| citizen |
native or naturalized member of a nation who owes it loyalty and is entitled to its protection |
| clause |
provision in a legal written document |
| commerce clause |
clause empowering Congress to regulate interstate and international commerce |
| compromise |
agreement or settlement of differences by mutual concessions |
| constitutional convention |
1787 convention in Philadelphia where the former Colonies' representatives framed the Constitution |
| delegate |
person designated to act for another |
| democracy |
government in which power is vested in the people and exercised by them or their elected agents |
| executive |
person supreme power of a government or administrative branch of government |
| expressed powers |
powers given to the government which are specifically outlined in the Constitution |
| federalism |
principle calling for a federal system of government |
| federalist |
advocate of federalism or a supporter of the Federalist party and Constitution |
| government |
system of rule, political direction and control over the inhabitants of societies and states |
| implied power |
powers not written in the Constitution but derived from it to carry out expressed powers |
| judicial branch |
court system which interprets laws enacted by the legislative branch |
| law |
regulations established by a nation's authority and applicable to its people |
| legislature |
branch of government in which a body of persons is empowered to make, change, and repeal laws |
| monarchy |
state where the supreme power is a sole and absolute ruler |
| necessary and proper clause |
clause in the Constitution allowing Congress to pass laws needed to enforce its specified powers |
| oath |
affirmed statement to speak the truth or keep a promise |
| political |
seeking power in the governmental affairs of a state |
| popular sovereignty |
doctrine saying those who govern must exercise power that conforms to the people's will |
| preamble |
introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution which sets the principles of American government |
| ratify |
to confirm by expressing consent, approval or formal sanction |
| republic |
state in which power rests with citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by their representatives |
| reserved power |
powers not expressly delegated to the federal government nor expressly prohibited to the states |
| separation of powers |
doctrine stating the three branches of government shouldn't infringe on each other's powers |
| sovereign |
ruler who has authority or a state with sovereign authority |
| veto |
power of one branch of government to cancel decisions or enactments of another branch |
