| A | B |
|---|
| Bicameral | 2 house legislature |
| Checks and Balances | a key aspect of the Constitution, protecting the balnace of power among the 3 branches of government |
| Elastic Clause | found in Article I, Sectino 8 of the Constitution; gives COngress the power to make "all laws necessary adn proper" to carry out the other definied powers of Congress |
| Electoral College | consists of presidential electors from each state. Electors are based on population/Congressional representation |
| Enumerated Powers | delegated powers of Congress; for example: collect taxes, pay debts, provide common defense, regulate commerce, coin money, declare war |
| Ex post facto | laws that take effect after the act takes place |
| Executive privilege | the ability of the president to protect personal material |
| Federalism | the overall divisiion between the federal government and state governments, as defined in the 10th Amendment |
| Full faith and Credit | phrase used to describe the mutual respect and legality of laws, public records, and judicial decisions made by states |
| Preamble | introduction to the Constitution; outlines the goals of the document |
| Privileges and Immunities | guarantees that the rights of a citizen in one state will be respected by other states |
| Reserved power Amendment | found in the 10th Amendment; gives states powers not delegated to the national government |
| Separation of Powers | this doctrine resulted in the establishement of 3 separate branches of government; each with distinct and unique powers |
| Supremacy clause | "the Constitution, and the laws of the United States...shall be the supreme law of the land." |
| Unwritten Constitution | traditions, precedent, and practice incorporated into our form of government that add to the Constitution's elasticity and its viability |
