FC: Constitution & Federalism (Unit 3)

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Popular Sovereignty

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The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people.

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Limited Government

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A governing or controlling body whose power exists only within predefined limits that are established by a constitution or other source of authority.

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Separation of Powers

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A model for the governance of a state, dividing the state into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility.

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Checks and Balances

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A system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power.

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Judicial Review

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The doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary.

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Federalism

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A system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

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Full Faith and Credit

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A clause in the U.S. Constitution requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.

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Supremacy Clause

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A clause in the U.S. Constitution stating that federal law is the "supreme law of the land," and takes precedence over state laws.

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Marbury v. Madison (1803)

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A landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

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Formal Amendment

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A change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself through one of four methods set forth in the Constitution.