1. Chapter 3 Vocabulary
US Government

2. Jurisdiction
Definition: The authority of a court to rule on certain cases
Example: The Supreme Court has JURISDICTION over the entire United States

3. Popular Sovereignty Definition: Rule by the people
Example: Kansas used POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY to decide whether or not slavery would be allowed in their new state

4. Checks & Balances
Definition: The system where each branch of government exercises some control over the others
Example: The President can use the veto power as a CHECK on the legislative branch to BALANCE out their power

5. Expressed Powers
Definition: Powers directly stated in the Constitution
Example: The Constitution gives an EXPRESSED POWER to the Congress to declare war

6. Ratify Definition: To approve
Example: There weren’t enough states to RATIFY the amendment

7. Probable Cause
Definition: A reasonable basis to believe a person or premises is linked to a crime
Example: The officer had PROBABLE CAUSE to search the vehicle

8. Due Process
Definition: Principle in the 5th Amendment stating that the government must follow proper Constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals

9. Due Process (Continued)
Example: Although he was eventually convicted of murder, the accused received his DUE PROCESS before the conviction

10. Supremacy Clause
Definition: A statement in Article VI of the Constitution establishing that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties of the United States “shall be the supreme law of the Land”

11. Supremacy Clause (Continued)
Example: According to the SUPREMACY CLAUSE, no law can be made to change the voting age to 21

12. Federalism
Definition: A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Example: Under the idea of FEDERALISM, both federal and state governments can collect taxes

13. Veto Definition: Rejection of a bill
Example: The President used his VETO power to reject the new health care bill

14. Enumerated Powers
Definition: The expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered 1-18 in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution
Example: The ENUMERATED POWERS give Congress the power to “coin money and regulate the value thereof”

15. Petition Definition: An appeal
Example: The students wanted to PETITION the administration for a more lenient dress code

16. Search Warrant
Definition: An order signed by a judge describing a specific place to be searched for specific items
Example: The police needed a SEARCH WARRANT in order to seize the computer

17. Eminent Domain
Definition: The power of the government to take private property for public use
Example: When widening Antelope Drive to Syracuse, the county used EMINENT DOMAIN to demolish the houses that were in the way of the new road

18. Amendment Definition: A change to the Constitution
Example: Some people think there should be an AMENDMENT to limit the terms of members of Congress

19. Separation of Powers
Definition: The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
Example: The SEPARATION OF POWERS allows no one single branch of our government to become too powerful

20. Judicial Review
Definition: The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state or national governments unconstitutional

21. Judicial Review (Continued)
Example: Using JUDICIAL REVIEW, the Supreme Court will have the ultimate decision whether or not gay marriage will be legal in all 50 states

22. Elastic Clause
Definition: Clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers expressed in other clauses of Article I

23. Elastic Clause (Continued)
Example: Because of the ELASTIC CLAUSE, Congress has the ultimate power to do what is necessary & proper in order to fulfill their duties

24. Impeach
Definition: To accuse a public official of misconduct in office
Example: You can’t IMPEACH a president just because you don’t like him.

25. Arrest Warrant
Definition: An order signed by a judge naming the individual to be arrested for a specific crime
Example: There was an ARREST WARRANT out for the guy who shot the police dog.

26. “Lame Duck”
Definition: An outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term, after retiring or being defeated for re-election
Example: Since he can not run for a 3rd term, President Obama is considered a “LAME DUCK”