Question | Answer |
Preamble | introduction |
Articles | Numbered sections of a document; the unamended constitution is divided into seven articles. |
constitutionalism | Basic principle that government & those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law. |
rule of law | Concept that holds that government & its officers are always subject to the law. |
separation of powers | basic principle of american system of gov. that the executive, legislative, & judicial powers are divided among 3 independent & coequal branches of gov. |
checks ad balances | system of overlapping the powers of legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others. |
veto | chief executives power to reject a bill passed by a legislature (i forbid in latin) |
judicial review | the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action. |
unconstitutional | contrary to constitutional provision & so illegal, null & void, of no force & affect. |
federalism | a system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national government & several regional gov. |
amendment | a change in or addition to a constitution or law. |
formal amendment | change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the con. itself through one of the 4 methods set out in the con. |
bill of rights | the first ten amendments in the con. |
executive agreement | a pact made with the president directly with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which does not require senate consent. |
treaty | a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states. |
electoral college | group of persons chosen in each state & the district of Columbia every 4 years who make a formal selection of the president & V.P. |
cabinet | presidential advisory body, traditionally made up of the heads of the executive department & other officers. |
senatorial courtesy | custom that the senate will not approve a presidential appointment opposed by a majority party senator from the state in which the appointee would serve |
informal amendment | day-to-day, year-to-year experiences of gov. under the con. |