Bills  Proposed legislation  Ex: All bills that raise revenue (taxes) must originate in the House of Representatives

Constitutionalism  A principle that elected representatives are bound by a written constitution that describes the rights of the people and the framework of the government.  Ex: The Constitution sates the powers of the national government. It also states the powers it does not have.  The Bill of Rights limits the government to protect the rights of the citizens

Elastic clause  Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives congress the right to make all laws necessary to carry out its expressed powers.  Ex: Congress established the Army and the Navy. Later, in 1947, it would establish the Air Force.

Electoral college  A group of representatives who formally elect the president and vice president; each state has electors equal to the number of its representatives in Congress.  Ex: This is how the President of the United States is elected.

Expressed Powers  Those powers specifically given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution.  Ex: To borrow money, make treaties, or declare war Implied Powers  Powers not specifically stated in the Constitution but derived from Congress’s right to make all laws necessary to carry out its expressed powers.  Ex: to organize a national postal system

Federalism  A system in which the national and state governments share authority over the same territory and the same people.  The principle of federalism divides power between the federal government and state governments.  The federal government has the power to deal with national issues. The states have the power to meet local needs.  Ex: United State and the state of Georgia

Judicial Review Court can overturn, or reject, any act of Congress or state law if the court believes that that act violates the Constitution. Ex: The Court overturned an act of Congress that would have made it illegal to burn the flag as an act of protest. The Court compared this act with the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits Congress from abridging freedom of speech, and held that the act was in conflict with the Amendment.

Republic  A form of government in which all of the powers of government are given to the people, who elect representatives to make the laws.  Ex: In the United States we elect representatives to make the laws of our country.

Sovereignty  The idea of supreme power or source of authority  Ex: In the United States the supreme power rests with the people who elect representatives to govern the people.

Checks and Balances The system that provides to each branch of government some power that controls or prevents some actions of the other two branches. Separating government powers creates a limited government. Ex: The President can veto a bill that has been passed in Congress Separation of powers A division of responsibilities for government among the three branches Ex: legislative, executive, and judicial branches are separate branches in one government.

Representative democracy  A system of government where the citizens elect public officials to make laws and other decisions for them.  Ex: We elect members to the House of Representatives and Senate.  We also elect the members of the electoral college, who in turn, choose the President

Direct democracy  A system of government where the citizens vote directly to make their own rules and laws.  A New England Town Meeting where anyone from the town who wants to show up to debate and vote on town policy can do so.

Principles of the U.S. Government 1. Sovereignty 2. Constitutionalism (limited government) 3. Separation of powers 4. Checks and Balances 5. Federalism