Government - Chapter 3

a change to the Constitution

• custom

• amendment

• ratification

• unconstitutional

passing of laws (statutes) by Congress

• basic legislation

• court decisions

• informal amendment

• formal amendment

a body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments

• custom

• electoral college

• cabinet

• rule of law

the nation's fundamental law; the nation's highest law;"the supreme law of the land"

• federalism

• unconstitutional

• Constitutionalism

• Constitution

idea that government must be conducted according to constitutional principles

• federalism

• unconstitutional

• Constitution

• Constitutionalism

the nation's courts interpret and apply the Constitution in the cases they hear

• court decisions

• executive action

• judicial review

• separation of powers

unwritten traditions may be as strong as written laws (i.e. presidential cabinet, Vice Presidential succession (later the 25th Amendment), no-third-term tradition (later the 22nd Amendment)

• custom

• formal amendment

• informal amendment

• limited government

the body of electors that makes the formal selection of the President

• cabinet

• separation of powers

• electoral college

• basic legislation

actions of the President; as Commander-in-Chief , the pres. can send troops to another country and make war without a formal declaration; the pres. can make executive agreements, which do not require ratification like treaties

• court decisions

• ratification

• basic legislation

• executive action

political power should be divided between a central or national government and a number of regional governments

• separation of powers

• custom

• ratification

• federalism