Ch.3

Executive Agreements

An arrangements or compacts with foreign leaders or foreign governments even though this power is found nowhere in the Constitution's text.

Political Party

Is an organized group that seeks to win elections in order to influence the activities of government.

Popular Sovereignty

The concept that government gets its authority from the people and that ultimate political power remains with the people is known as popular sovereignty.

Veto

The executive branch has a check on the legislative branch by way of the president's power to veto, or reject, legislation.

Repeal

To revoke or cancel a law that had been passed to be cancelled or revoked

Separation of Powers

Under the principle of separation of powers, the duties of governing are divided among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Supermajority

3/5 or 2/3 or most agree or disagree

Cabinet

A group of advisers consisting of the heads of the executive departments.

Unconstitutional

Any law or government action that is found to violate a part of the Constitution is said to be unconstitutional.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution contains the supremacy clause, which declares that the Constitution together with U. S. laws passed under the Constitution and treaties made by the national government is "the supreme law of the land."

Chechs and Balances

Checks and balances refers to the system that gives each branch of government the power to change or cancel acts of another branch.

Judicial Review

In the United States, courts exercise judicial review, which is power to determine whether the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government are constitutional.

Electoral College

Instead, the president and vice president are elected by members of the electoral college, the body of 538 people elected from the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Limited Government

Limited government is the principle that the powers and functions of government are restricted by the U. S. Constitution and other laws.

Gridlock

Occasionally, gridlock has been so severe that it has brought government to a standstill.

Federalism

The final principle in the Constitution's blueprint is federalism, under which the powers of government are distributed between the national government and state governments.

Rule of Law

This principle is also known as the rule of law, the concept that every member of society, including the ruler or government, must obey the law and is never above it.