Anit-Federalist
An opponent of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787
Bicameral Legislature
A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate.
Checks & Balances
each branch of the national government can check the actions of the other two branches
Confederation
A political system in which states or regional governments retain ultimate authority except for those powers they expressly delegate to a central government. A voluntary association of independent states, in which the member states agree to limited restra
electoral college
Constitutional system for electing president and vice president. Each state has electors = to number of senators + representatives (DC also has 3 because of 23rd Amendment). Citizens of state vote for candidate. Winner gets all electoral college votes (ex
Executive agreement
an international agreement between chiefs of state that does not require legislative approval
executive order
A rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law. Executive orders can implement and give administrative effect to provisions in the Constitution, to treaties, and to statutes.
federal system
A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional, or subdivisional, governments. Each level must have some domain in which its policies are dominant and some genuine political or constitutional guarantee of its au
federalist
the name given to one who was in favor of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the creation of a federal union with a strong central government.
Great Compromise
the compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia plans that created one chamber of the Congress based on population and one chamber representing each state equally; also called the Connecticut Compromise.
Judicial Review
the power of the Supreme Court and other courts to declare unconstitutional federal or state laws and other acts of government
Madisonian model
A structure of government proposed by James Madison in which the powers of the government are separated into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
natural rights
Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke's theories about government and was widely accepted among America's Found
Representative assembly
A legislature composed of individuals who represent the population.
separation of powers
the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
Social Contract
a voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
State
a group of people occupying a specific area and organized under one government; may be either a nation or a subunit of a nation
Supremacy Doctrine
a doctrine that asserts the priority of national law over state laws. This principle is rooted in Article VI of the Constitution, which provides that the Constitution, the laws passed by the national government under its constitutional powers, and all tre
unicameral legislature
A legislature with only one legislative chamber, as opposed to a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature, such as the U.S. Congress. Today, Nebraska is the only state in the Union with a unicameral legislature.
block grants
Federal programs that provide funds to state and local governments for general functional areas, such as criminal justice or mental-health programs.
categorical grants
federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport
Commerce clause
The section of the Constitution in which Congress is given the power to regulate trade among the states and with foreign countries.
Concurrent powers
powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments
Supremacy Clause
The constitutional provision that makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws.
elastic clause or necessary and proper clause
The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers.
police power
The authority to legislate for the protection of the health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people. In the United States, most police power is reserved to the states.
enumerated powers
Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution. The first seventeen clauses of Article I, Section 8, specify most of the enumerated powers of the national government.
unitary system
A centralized governmental system in which ultimate governmental authority rests in the hands of the national, or central, government.
confederal system
A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states.
interstate compact
An agreement between two or more states. Agreements on minor matters are made without congressional consent, but any compact that tends to increase the power of the contracting states relative to other states or relative to the national government general
Duel federalism
A system in which the states and the national government each remain supreme within their own spheres. The doctrine looks on nation and state as co-equal sovereign powers. Neither the state government nor the national government should interfere in the ot
cooperative federalism
system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems
picket-fence federalism
A model of federalism in which specific programs and policies (depicted as vertical pickets in a picket fence) involve all levels of government - national, state, and local (depicted by the horizontal boards in a picket fence).
federal mandate
A requirement in federal legislation that forces states and municipalities to comply with certain rules.
devolution
The transfer of powers from a national or central government to a state or local government.
foreclosure
when a lender takes over ownership of a property from an owner who has failed to make loan payments
community property
property acquired during marriage and subject to division upon divorce
freedmen's bureau
1865 - Agency set up to aid former slaves in adjusting themselves to freedom. It furnished food and clothing to needy blacks and helped them get jobs
enabling act
a provision in a law that confers on appropriate officials the power to implement or enforce the law
ironclad oath
An oath of loyalty to the nation required of former confederates in order to participate in politics.
regular session
A legislative session scheduled by the constitution. Texas regular sessions are biennial (once every two years) rather than annual as in most states and in Congress.
special session
a legislative session called by the Texas governor, who also sets its agenda
house and senate journals
The official public records of the actions of the two chambers of the Texas legislature. The two journals are issued daily during sessions.
statute-like details
Detailed state constitutional provisions characterized by the narrow scope usually found in statutory law.
Deadwood
In the context of state government, constitutional provisions made inoperative by conflicting federal constitutional or statutory law
plural executive
an executive branch with power divided among several independent officers and a weak chief executive
Partisan Election
An election between candidates who are nominated by their parties and whose party affiliation is designated on the ballot. In Texas, all state and county officials (including judges) are selected in this manner. Only municipal and some special district el
home rule
allows cities tow write their own charters, choose their own type of government, and manage their own affairs