Power resides with the people, not with government or its leaders.

Government with a ruler who inherits the position, may rule for life & holds powers varying from very limited to total rule.

Idea that the national government shares power with the state gov’t. The sharing of power between federal & state gov’t.

Agreement between gov’t and people to take care of one another. Is an agreement between the people in society.

Formal approval of an agreement, treaty or constitution.

The legal principle that every group and person, including the government must obey the law. No one is above the law, no one is below the law.

A government in which the citizens hold the political power.

Where everyone votes on all issues in a community. (Ancient Greece)

A system in which each branch of gov’t can limit the power of the other branches.

Supporters of the Constitution who believe a strong national gov’t is needed to keep the country united.

To bring charges against a gov’t official for a crime. The first step in removing an elected official from office.

Gives Congress the powers to make all laws necessary

And proper to carry out powers specifically delegated to them by the Constitution.

Cannot be tried for the same crime twice.

Citizens elect leaders to operate the government and represent their rights and interests in government.

The power of gov’t is limited by the Constitution and each Branch is limited in what it can do.

Opposed the ratification of the Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

Made up of 2 houses or chambers.

Cruel and oppressive gov’t or rule.

Rights that all people have by virtue of being human including life, liberty and property.

Powers of gov’t are divided among 3 branches of gov’t, to prevent any one person or group from gaining too much power.

A reserve army made up of civilians who are trained to fight & can serve full time in an emergency.

A body of electors from each state who cast votes to elect the president and vice president.

Powers of the federal government, specifically given by the U.S. Constitution.

Powers of the national government that are not specifically listed in the Constitution, but which Congress can reasonably claim as part of their responsibilities.

Powers granted to the states. These include marriage laws, driving laws, traffic regulations, maintaining education systems, conducting elections.

States that the Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land”, this means that when state and federal law are in conflict, the Constitution supersedes all state and local laws.

Powers shared by the federal and state gov’ts under the U.S. Constitution.

First 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

The power of the president to reject a Bill and send it back to Congress.

Guarantees of equal rights & equal treatment under the law, such as trial by jury & voting rights.

A document issued by a judge that authorizes law enforcement officers to carry out a search, seizure of evidence or arrest.

Branch of the gov’t that makes the Laws

The branch of gov’t that carries out the laws and daily operation of the government.

The branch of government that interprets laws.

Laws created after the civil war that enforced segregation & denied legal equality to African Americans.

A legal process through which a person who is not born a US citizen can become a citizen of that country.

The process to have a higher court review the result of a trial court or lower court.

Ideas used to influence people's thinking or behavior.

An attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting over any other.

The media monitoring how things are done by politicians and drawing attention to anything that is not done properly.

One of the two major political parties in the United States. Considered to be more conservative, the party supports reducing the power of the federal government in providing social programs.

Political party in the United States that believes each individual has the right to control his or her own body, action, speech, and property.

One of the two major political parties in the United States.Considered to be more liberal, the party supports a stronger role for the federal government in providing social programs.

The enforced separation of different racial groups.

Refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective (group) way of forcing the government to do or change something.

Idea that the country of citizenship of a child is determined by its country of birth.

Idea that a person's nationality at birth is the same as that of his natural parents.

Introduction to the U.S. Constitution, establishing the goals and purposes of government.

Pamphlet encouraging colonists to demand their rights as citizens and support independence for the colonies. (Thomas Paine)

First document to limit the powers of the king - signed in 1215.