| A | B |
|---|
| Preamble | short, noteworthy, introduction to the Constitution |
| articles | numbered sections of the Const |
| Constitutionalism | gov't must be conducted according to Constitutional principles |
| rule of law | means gov't and its officers are always subject to the law and never above it |
| separation of powers | basic power of gov;t are distributed - separated among the three branches |
| checks and balances | each branch of gov't is subject to a number of restraints of the other branches |
| veto | to reject any act of Congress |
| judicial review | the power of the Courts to determine whether what gov't does is Constitutional |
| unconstitutional | to declare illegal |
| federalism | the division of power among a central gov't and several regional gov'ts |
| amendment | changes in the Constitutions written words |
| formal amendment | changes or conditions that become part of the written language of the Const |
| Bill of Rights | the first 10 amendments to the Constitution |
| executive agreement | a pact made with the President with the head of a foreign state |
| treaty | a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states |
| electoral college | group that makes the formal selection of the nations President |
| Cabinet | an advisory body to the President |
| senatorial courtesy | custom that the Senate will approve only those presidential appointees who are acceptable to the senator or senators of the Pres. party from the state involved |
