Constiution -✔✔a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a
state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed
Preamble -✔✔We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America
popular sovereignty -✔✔the principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and
sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives
federalism -✔✔the federal principle or system of government
exclusive powers -✔✔certain powers that only the national government has
reserved powers -✔✔certain powers that only the state governments have
concurrent powers -✔✔powers in nations with a federal system of government that are shared by
both the federal government and each constituent political unit
separation of powers -✔✔an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of
government in separate bodies.
checks and balances -✔✔counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is
regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals
or groups.
limited government -✔✔a system of government that is bound to certain principles of action by a
state constitution
, article 1 -✔✔establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress
congress -✔✔the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States consisting of
two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives
bicameral -✔✔having two branches
House of Representatives -✔✔makes and passes the federal laws
reapportionment -✔✔Redistribution of representation in a legislative body
enumerated / delegated powers -✔✔describes how a central government with three distinct
branches can operate effectively
implied powers -✔✔powers not explicitly named in the Constitution but assumed to exist
elastic clause / necessary and proper -✔✔The Congress shall have Power ... To make all Laws which
shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers
vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer
thereof
commerce power -✔✔the United States Congress shall have power to regulate Commerce with
foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes
power of the purse -✔✔The influence that legislatures have over public policy because of their
power to vote money for public purposes
non legislative powers (investigate, impeach, confirm) -✔✔The House of Representatives has the
power to impeach the President, Vice President and certain other high officials, and the Senate tries
the cases. The Senate has the power to approve treaties. If the treaty involves foreign aid, however,
the House must also agree.
speaker of the house -✔✔The presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives