Vocabulary
- Popular Sovereignty- The power to govern is derived from the people
- Federalism- A form of government where power is divided between central authority, and other political units
- Separation of Powers- A form of government where power is divided into branches so no branch is more powerful than the other(s)
- Checks and Balances-
- Judicial Review- The Supreme Court reviews the constitutional validity of an act.
- Limited Government- Government can't intervene in personal liberties
- Bill of Attainder- An act that proves a person guilty without trial.
- Elastic Clause- Congress can write any law that is "necessary and proper"
- Supremacy Clause- U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the country
- Writ of Habeas Corpus- When charged with a crime, government must tell you why they are charging you with a crime
- Ex Post Facto- "From after the action" you can not be charged with a crime, after-the-fact or after a law is written
- Due Process- There must be fair trial/treatment through the normal judicial system
- Expressed Powers- Powers given to the President, Congress, or the Supreme court that are explicitly written into the constitution
- Implied Powers- Assumed Powers that the president, congress, or the supreme court has, but are not explicitly stated in the constitution
- Full Faith and Credit- States must respect other states' rights
- Privileges and Immunities- "Comity Clause" no citizen in the U.S. is given privileges or immunities. All U.S. citizens are treated equally to one another.
- Extradition- The turning over of a criminal from one country to another
- Republic- "representative democracy", the U.S. is not a true Democracy or a direct democracy