Lesson 4

Federal system

the sovereign people decide how to delegate their authority.

Confederation

the states are independent and have control of anything that affects their citizens and territory.

Null and void

A law that is null and void may not be enforced. Such a law is considered unconstitutional and not acceptable as a law at all. How does judicial review apply to laws passed by state governments? The Framers wanted to be sure that the states obeyed the laws of the federal government. So, in Article VI of the Constitution they said that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land. As we discussed in Lessons 16 and 17, this is the supremacy clause. The Constitution, the laws passed by Congress, and treaties are the nation's highest laws and must be obeyed by the states. If state laws conflict with those of the federal govern- ment, the U.S. Supreme Court can order that the state laws not be enforced.

Department of the treasury

Alexander Hamilton, as Secretary of the Treasury, guided the new government in money matters.

Marbury vs Madison

During the last weeks that John Adams was president, he appointed a number of people to office. There had not been enough time to deliver the proper papers to all the appointees before the next president, Thomas Jefferson, took office. Without the proper papers, the appointees could not take the jobs that Adams gave them. When Jefferson did take office, he ordered his secretary of state, James Madison, not to deliver the appointments that were left.

Department of War

Henry Knox, as the Secretary of War, handled military affairs and defense.

Supremacy clause

The states cannot make laws that conflict with the Constitution or laws made by Congress

Judiciary act of 1789

In 1789, Congress passed a law that organized the court system for the new nation.

Cabinet

These officials became known as the president's

Department of State

Thomas Jefferson was selected to serve as Secretary of State to be responsible for the foreign relations of the nation.

Appellate courts

handle those cases that have been tried first in district court and have been appealed.

Unitary Government

is one in which a central government controls the state and local governments.

Opinion of the courts

is the Court's decision and the reasoning behind the decision

Judicial Review

is the power of the courts to decide whether laws and actions of government are allowed under the Constitution.

Interpret

means to decide what the words or phrases actually mean.

Sovereign

means to have the highest rank of authority.

Second Admendment

refers to the right to keep and bear arms.

Federalism

refers to the practice of dividing and sharing the powers of gov- ernment between a central government and regional governments such as state governments.

Tenth admendment

says that the powers not delegated to the federal government nor forbidden to the states belong to the states or to the people.

Ninth Admendment

to the Consti- tution says that the listing of certain rights does not mean that these are the only rights the people have

Federal district courts

which hear cases involving the Constitution