U.S. History & Government
Unit 2.2 Key Terms
For extra credit, use the following definition to create flash cards. Write the term on the front and the definition on the back.
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1. Popular Sovereignty – basic principle of the American system of government that the people are the source of governmental power
2. Limited Government - powers of the government are clearly defined and limited to those stated in the constitution
3. Separation of Powers –the powers of making, enforcing and interpreting laws are divided amongst separate branches of government
4. Check and Balances – the system in which each branch of government has the ability to limit the power of the other branches to prevent any from becoming too powerful
5. Federalism - political system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
6. Supremacy Clause – makes the Constitution and federal laws the “supreme law of the land” in the United States.
7. Elastic Clause – gives the power to Congress to pass all laws necessary and proper to carry out the enumerated powers
8. Unwritten Constitution - ideas and processes that are accepted as a needed part of American government, but are not actually in the Constitution.
9. Electoral College – a group selected every four years to elect the president in which each state's number of electors is equal to the number of its senators and representatives in Congress.
10. The Amendment Process – the process of changing or adding to the Constitution
11. Congress – the national legislature or lawmaking body; bicameral ->House of Representatives (lower house) and Senate (upper house).
12. Supreme Court - the highest federal court and final interpreter of the Constitution
13. President – the chief executive of the United States
14. Veto – the President’s power to reject a bill and prevent it from becoming a law
15. Impeach – to formally charge a public official with misconduct in office
16. Judicial Review – power of the Supreme Court to determine whether laws or actions violate the Constitution.