| A | B |
|---|
| constutionalism | government must be conducted according to constitutional principles |
| rule of law | government and its officers are always subject to and not above the law |
| separation of powers | government is separated into three independent and coequale branches; executive, legislative, and judicial |
| checks and balances | each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks (restraints) by the other branches |
| judicial review | the power to decide whether what government does is in accord with the Constitution provides |
| unconstitutional | to declare illegal, null and viod, of no force of effect |
| federalism | the division of power among a central government and several regional governments |
| amendment | a change in written words |
| formal amendment | changes or additions that become part of the written language of the Constitution itself |
| bill of rights | collectively, the first 10 amendments |
| informal amendments | the process by which many changes have been made in the constitution that have not led to changes in the document's written words |
| executive agreement | a pact made by the president dirctly with the head of a foreign state |
