| A | B |
|---|
| unitary system | a system of government in which all political power is concentrated in one strong central government |
| confederation | an association of independent states bound together for a particular purpose |
| tariff | a tax placed on imports and exports |
| executive branch | the branch of government that is headed by the President and charged with carrying out the nation's laws |
| compromise | settle a dispute by agreeing that each party will give up part of what it demands |
| ratify | approve, confirm formally to make valid |
| bill of rights | a listing of individual rights that the central government cannot violate |
| popular sovereignty | the concept that ultimate political authority rests with the people and can be used to create, change, or abolish government |
| federalism | a form of government in which power and authority are divided between a central and various state governments |
| national supremacy | the principle of American government which holds that the Constitution, laws passed by the national government, and all treaties are the supreme laws of the land |
| delegated powers | the exclusive right of the national government to coin money, regulate trade, establish post offices, admit new states, govern territories, and fix standards of weights and measures, also known as enumerated powers |
| implied powers | authority possessed by the national government that is inferred from the powers delegated to the national government in the Constitution |
| reserved powers | powers not given to the national government under the Constitution, but left to the states or the people |
| concurrent powers | powers held by both the national and state governments |
| separation of powers | dividing of power within either a national or state government |
| judicial branch | the branch of government that holds the power to intrepret laws |
| checks and balances | a system whereby each branch of government exercises a check upon the actions of others |
| override | after the President's veto, Congress can pass a bill again by a 2/3 vote in both houses |
