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Government
Vocabulary Activity Chapter 3
1.
Separation of powers – The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government (page 65)
2.
Enumerated powers – The expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered 1 -18 in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution (page 69)
3.
Federal bureaucracy – Departments and agencies of the federal government – mostly the executive branch (page 71)
4.
Due process of law – Principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals (page 86)
5.
Expressed powers –Powers directly stated in the Constitution (page 68)
6.
Judicial activism – The philosophy that the Supreme Court should plat an active role in shaping national policies by addressing social and political issues (page 81)
7.
Probable cause – A reasonable basis to believe a person or premises is linked to a crime
(page 85)
8.
Supremacy clause – The statement establishing the constitution as the highest law of the land (page 65)
9.
Judicial restraint – The philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political actions (page 80)

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10.
Checks and balances –The system whereby each branch of government exercises some control over the others (page 65)
11.
Eminent domain – The power of the government to take private property for public use
(page 86)
12.
Elastic clause - Statement in Article I, section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers expressed in the other clauses of Article I (page 69)
13.
Jurisdiction – The authority of a court to rule on certain cases (page 64)
14.
Arrest warrant – An order signed by a judge naming the individual to be arrested for a specific crime (page 85)
15.
Amendment – A change or clarification to the Constitution (page 65)
16.
Veto – Rejection of a bill (page 66)
17.
Ratify – To approve / sign (page 76)
18.
Petition – An appeal / document stating a disagreement that is usually signed by many citizens (page 77)
19.
Federalism – A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments (page 65)

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20.
Balanced budget – Plan requiring that what the government spends will not exceed its income (page 77)
21.
Popular sovereignty - Government’s authority flows from the people / Rule by the people (page 65) People are the source of government power
22.
Executive agreement - An agreement made between the president and another head of state (page 80)
23.
Search warrant – An order signed by a judge describing a specific place to be searched for a specific crime (page 85)
24.
Prior restraint - Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast (page 84)
25.
Change of venue - Where a new trial is located / used in cases of too much prior knowledge
26.
Poll taxes - Money paid in order to vote / was used in some cases to prevent minorities from voting in elections especially in the South ( page 90)
27.
Article - One of Seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution / Articles I, II, and
III describe the makeup of each branch of government Legislative, Executive, and
Judicial (page 64)
28.
Lame duck - An outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term after retiring or being defeated for reelection (page 90)
29.
Treaty - An agreement between nations
30.
Impeach - “to accuse”
31.
Judicial review - The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of the local, state, or national governments unconstitutional (page 66)
32.
Limited Government – Principle in the Constitution that limits the actions of government by specifically listing powers it does and does not have. For example, the first 10 amendments set specific limits in the areas of freedom of expression, personal security, and fair trials. The Constitution limits the powers of government by making explicit grants of authority.

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