US Government and Constitution Concepts

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Concurrent Powers

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Powers shared by the national government and state governments, such as the power to tax and borrow money.

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National Government

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A system of government in which powers are distributed between the central government (federal government) and subunits such as states.

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Bicameral Legislature

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A legislature with two bodies, usually referred to as the upper and lower chambers, or, as is most common in the United States, the House and Senate.

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The Federalist Papers

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A collection of the eighty-five articles written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the Constitution.

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Supremacy Clause

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A clause in Article 6 of the Constitution stipulating that the Constitution and national laws are 'supreme', meaning that when state laws conflict with national laws, the latter supersede and take precedence.

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Enumerated Powers

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Powers of the federal government specifically stated in the Constitution.

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Implied Powers

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Government powers that are inferred from the powers expressly enumerated in the Constitution.

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Electoral College

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The entity that selects the president and vice president, consisting of 538 electors chosen from the fifty states and the District of Columbia.

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Unitary Form of Government

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A system in which the central government exercises complete control and authority over subunits of government which means that states or other governmental units do not have autonomous powers.

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Confederation

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A system in which states or other types of government units organize a weak central government with limited scope and powers while reserving ultimate power for themselves.