Constitution Vocabulary

the system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other two branches

• federalism

• checks and balances

• limits and supports

• constitutionality

the part of government that carries out, the laws

• legislative

• executive

• judicial

• presidential

the lawmaking part of government

• legislative

• executive

• judicial

• presidential

the part of government that interprets the laws

• legislative

• executive

• judicial

• presidential

federalism

• the constitutional system that states that the national government can levy taxes

• the constitutional system that states that power will be divided between 3 branches

• the constitutional system that states the national government is supreme

• the constitutional system that shares power between the national and state governments

judicial review

• the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether laws made by the other branches are unconstitutional

• the power of the Supreme Court to overturn Constitutional amendments

• the power of the Supreme Court to remove an elected official from office

• the power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws made by state governments

a basic principle of democracy that says the greater number should exercise greater power

• federalism

• republicanism

• majority rule

• constitutional rule

the idea that the government’s authority comes from the people

• popular sovereignty

• majority rule

• federalism

• populism

a key constitutional principle that divides the functions of government among three branches

• federalism

• sectionalism

• separation of duties

• separation of power

elastic clause

• states that the Supreme Court can be flexible when interpreting the Constitution

• states that Congress can be flexible when considering laws it makes limiting states

• states that Congress can make laws limiting the powers of other branches

• states that Congress can make any law necessary for carrying out its duties