The US Constitution: key terms

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Codified constitution
A constitution that is written as a single official document.
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Fundamental law
Some provision upon which the rest or a part of the legal system is based and which accordingly either cannot be changed or can be changed only by following special provisions.
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Entrenched clause
Provisions which makes certain amendments either more difficult or impossible.
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Constitutional sovereignty
The constitution has absolute sovereignty, and is supreme over all other government institutions.
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Popular sovereignty
The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.
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Bill of Rights
The collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
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Anti-Federalism
A movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution.
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Limited government
A concept in political philosophy in which governmental power is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution.
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Separation of powers
A model for the governance of a state, under which it is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with the powers associated with another.
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Checks and balances
A system which allows for a system-based regulation that allows one branch to limit another.
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Federalism
The mixed or compound mode of government, combining a general government with regional governments in a single political system.
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Bipartisanship
A political situation, especially in the context of a two-party system, in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise, in theory.
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Partisan
A committed member of a political party.
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Divided government in the US
A situation in which one party controls the executive branch while another party controls one or both houses of the legislative branch.
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Gridlock
A situation when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people.
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Enumerated powers
A list of items found in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that set forth the authority of Congress.
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Reserved powers
Those powers which are not "enumerated".
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Elastic clause
A provision in Article One that gives Congress the power to make all laws 'necessary and proper' to execute the federal government's powers.
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Dual federalism
A political arrangement in which power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms, with state governments exercising those powers accorded to them without interference from the federal government.
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Cooperative federalism
A concept of federalism in which national, state, and local governments interact cooperatively and collectively to solve common problems, rather than making policies separately but more or less equally.
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New Federalism
A political philosophy of devolution, or the transfer of certain powers from the federal government back to the states.
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The Supreme Court
The highest federal court of the United States.
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Judicial review in the United States
The ability of a court to examine and decide if a statute, treaty or administrative regulation contradicts or violates the provisions of existing law, a State Constitution, or ultimately the United States Constitution.
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Commerce Clause
An enumerated power listed in Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 that gives Congress the power to regulate inter-state and international commerce.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Some provision upon which the rest or a part of the legal system is based and which accordingly either cannot be changed or can be changed only by following special provisions.

Back

Fundamental law

Card 3

Front

Provisions which makes certain amendments either more difficult or impossible.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

The constitution has absolute sovereignty, and is supreme over all other government institutions.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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