UNIT 2 – VOCABULARY TERMS
VOCAB TERM DEFINITION
1.
The system of fundamental principles according
CONSTITUTION to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like,
is governed
a/k/a The Supreme Law of the USA
2. LIMITED
GOVERNMENT
3. Popular
Sovereignty
Principle that the power of government is
limited by the terms of the Constitution –
the government is not absolute or all
powerful.
The power of the government comes from the
consent of the people
4. Federalism
Constitutional Principle that takes all of the
power of government and divides it between the
levels of government: national, state and local
5. Separation of
Powers
Constitutional Principle that takes the power
assigned to the national government and divides
it between the 3 branches of government ,
executive, legislative and judicial
6. Checks and
Balances
Constitutional Principle in which each branch
of government is given powers that check or
limit the powers of the other branches.
7. Bicameral /
Bicameralism
“Bi” means 2 and “cameral” means house so it
means a 2 House Legislature
8. Legislative
Branch – a/k/a
Congress
Branch of the National Government that makes
the laws
9. Veto
Power of the President to cancel or to reject a
law passed by Congress
10. Executive
Branch
The President
11. Judicial
Branch
The Supreme
Court
12. Judicial
Review
13. RULE OF
LAW
Branch of the National Government which
executes, enforces, and administers the laws
Branch of the National Government that
Interprets the Laws and settles disputes
Power of the US Supreme Court to review laws
passed by Congress as well as actions of the
President to see if they are consistent with the
US Constitution and if not, strike them down as
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Constitutional Principle in which a country’s
legal system is based on fairness and equality
with all laws being published and everyone
being treated the same under the law