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Creating the Con.
Creating the Constitution Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
federalism | sharing power between the federal and state governments |
legislative branch | the lawmaking branch of government |
executive branch | branch of government that executes, or carries out, the law; headed by the president |
electoral college | special group of electors chosen to vote for president and vice president |
judicial branch | the branch of government that includes the courts that settle disputes and questions of the law |
checks and balances | a system by which each branch of government limits power of other branches |
amendment | a change, correction, or improvement added to a document |
popular sovereignty | the belief that government is subject to the will of the people |
limited government | Government with limited powers strictly defined by law |
enumerated power | power specifically given Congress in the Constitution |
reserved power | power belonging only to the states |
concurrent power | power shared by the states and federal government |
separation of powers | a principle by which powers are divided among different branches of government to make sure no one branch has too much power |
implied power | power not enumerated in the Constitution but suggested in its language |
judicial review | power of the court to judge whether or not actions of other branches are constitutional |
due process | the legal rules & procedures the government must observe before depriving a person of life, liberty, or property. |
equal protection | the equal application of the law regardless of a person's race, religion, political beliefs or other qualities |
naturalization | the process of becoming a citizen of another country |