Chapter 3 Vocabulary
US GOVERNMENT
Jurisdiction
Definition:
The authority of a
court to rule on certain cases

Example: The Supreme Court has JURISDICTION over
the entire United States
Popular Sovereignty
Definition:

Rule by the people
Example: Kansas used POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY to
decide whether or not slavery would be allowed in their
new state
Checks & Balances
Definition:
The system where
each branch of government
exercises some control over the
others

Example: The President can use the veto power as a
CHECK on the legislative branch to BALANCE out their
power
Expressed Powers
Definition:
Powers directly stated
in the Constitution

Example: The Constitution gives an EXPRESSED POWER
to the Congress to declare war
Ratify
Definition:

To approve
Example: There weren’t enough states to RATIFY the
amendment
Probable Cause
Definition:
A reasonable basis to
believe a person or premises is
linked to a crime

Example: The officer had PROBABLE CAUSE to
search the vehicle
Due Process
Definition:
Principle in the 5th
Amendment stating that the
government must follow proper
Constitutional procedures in trials
and in other actions it takes
against individuals
Due Process (Continued)

Example: Although he was eventually convicted of
murder, the accused received his DUE PROCESS before
the conviction
Supremacy Clause
Definition:
A statement in Article
VI of the Constitution establishing
that the Constitution, laws passed
by Congress, and treaties of the
United States “shall be the
supreme law of the Land”
Supremacy Clause

(Continued)
Example: According to the SUPREMACY CLAUSE, no law
can be made to change the voting age to 21
Federalism
Definition:
A system in which
power is divided between the
national and state governments

Example: Under the idea of FEDERALISM, both
federal and state governments can collect taxes
Veto
Definition:

Rejection of a bill
Example: The President used his VETO power to
reject the new health care bill
Enumerated Powers
 Definition:
The expressed powers of
Congress that are itemized and
numbered 1-18 in Article I, Section 8, of
the Constitution

Example: The ENUMERATED POWERS give Congress the
power to “coin money and regulate the value thereof”
Petition
Definition:

An appeal
Example: The students wanted to PETITION the
administration for a more lenient dress code
Search Warrant
Definition:
An order signed by a
judge describing a specific place
to be searched for specific items

Example: The police needed a SEARCH
WARRANT in order to seize the computer
Eminent Domain
 Definition:
The power of the
government to take private
property for public use
 Example:
When widening Antelope Drive to
Syracuse, the county used EMINENT DOMAIN
to demolish the houses that were in the way of
the new road
Amendment
Definition:
A change to the
Constitution

Example: Some people think there should be an
AMENDMENT to limit the terms of members of
Congress
Separation of Powers
 Definition:
The division of power
among the legislative, executive,
and judicial branches of
government

Example: The SEPARATION OF POWERS allows no
one single branch of our government to become
too powerful
Judicial Review
Definition:
The power of the
Supreme Court to declare laws
and actions of local, state or
national governments
unconstitutional
Judicial Review (Continued)

Example: Using JUDICIAL REVIEW, the Supreme Court
will have the ultimate decision whether or not gay
marriage will be legal in all 50 states
Elastic Clause
 Definition:
Clause 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
other clauses of Article I
Elastic Clause (Continued)

Example: Because of the ELASTIC CLAUSE, Congress
has the ultimate power to do what is necessary &
proper in order to fulfill their duties
Impeach
Definition:
To accuse a public
official of misconduct in office

Example: You can’t IMPEACH a president just
because you don’t like him.
Arrest Warrant
Definition:
An order signed by a
judge naming the individual to
be arrested for a specific crime

Example: There was an ARREST WARRANT out for
the guy who shot the police dog.
“Lame Duck”
 Definition:
An outgoing official
serving out the remainder of a term,
after retiring or being defeated for
re-election

Example: Since he can not run for a 3rd term, President
Obama is considered a “LAME DUCK”