Chapter 2 The Constitution Vocabulary

The duties of government are divided among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

• Popular sovereignty

• separation of powers

• checks and balances

• limited government

The system that gives each branch of government the power to change or cancel acts of another branch.

• popular sovereignty

• separation of powers

• checks and balances

• limited government

Veto

• Avoid

• Approve

• Lose

• Reject

The courts’ power to determine whether the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government are constitutional

• Judicial Review

• Federalism

• Judicial appointment

• Executive power

Any law or government action that is found to violate a part of the Constitution

• Veto

• Supremacy clause

• Unconstitutional

• Checks and balances

The powers of government tare distributed between the national government and state governments

• Federalism

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

• Political party

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”.

• supermajority

• separation of powers

• rule of law

• supremacy clause

To cancel or revoke

• Veto

• Repeal

• Pardon

• Execute

Powers granted to the national government that are listed in the Constitution

• Expressed powers

• Implied powers

• Inherent powers

• Reserved powers

Powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution, but they are logical extensions of expressed powers

• Expressed powers

• Implied powers

• Inherent powers

• Reserved powers