PERJURY

PERJURY

lying under oathsentence- The crown's star witness has also made a statement admitting perjury.

PORK BARREL LEGISLATION

Laws the congress pass to appropriate money for local federal projects

sentence- Successful promotion of such pork-barrel legislation is very likely to get the legislator re-elected by his constituents.

EXPRESSED POWERS

enumerated powers (article one, section 3)

sentence- Expressed powers, are clearly stated and have no reasoning to not be followed.

NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE

implies that congress has powers beyond those expressed in the first 17 clauses.

sentence- The necessary and proper clause of the constitution allowed congress to establish the national bank

CHECKS AND BALANCES

A system of approvals by different branches of government that prevents any one branch or elected official from making laws or rules without approval of the others.

sentence- Appropriation account this outlines how the profits are distributed.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them

sentence- 129 MSPS make up the parliament, which is elected by proportional representation

25TH AMENDMENT

When office of VP becomes empty, president appoints a replacement

sentence- The 25th amendment should be put into action with Obama in office

SUPREMACY CLAUSE

Establishes the U.S. Constitution, federal statues, and U.S. Treaties as the supreme law of the land

sentence- The clause in the U.S. Constitution that provides that federal law trumps states law is called the Supremacy clause

VETO

When president refuses to sign a bill and returns it to congress.

sentence- The legislature would have a veto over appointments to key post

CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

Any government whose authority and construction are defined by a constitution

sentence- The United States is based on a constitutional government

SUFFRAGE

The right or privilege of voting

sentence- Universal and equal suffrage gave all adult men and women the vote

REPUBLIC

A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch

sentence- The United States is a type of republic in which supreme power rests in the people

PARLIMENT

The national legislature of various countries, especially that of the United Kingdom, made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons

sentence- The British Parliament is like the Senate and House of Representatives in the United States

INALIENABLE RIGHTS

That which is inalienable cannot be bought, sold, or transferred from one individual to another. The personal rights to life and liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of the united States are inalienable

sentence- Various types of property are inalienable such as rivers, streams, and highways

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

Government is created by and subject to the will of the people

sentence- Based on the concept of popular sovereignty

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

Based on the idea of a contractual agreement between the individual and the state

sentence- In school we make kids sign a social contract to make them responsible for how they should treat others and how they can expect others to treat them

RULE OF LAW

The principle that all people and institutions are subjects to and accountable to laws

sentence- The president must obey the rule of law so he doesn’t abuse his power in office

SEPARATED POWERS

The principle or system of vesting in separate branches the executive, legislative, a judicial powers of a government

sentence- The separation of powers is important because it helps avoid the misuse and abuse of power given to a person or group

SEPARATED POWERS

The principle or system of vesting in separate branches the executive, legislative, and judicial powers of a government

sentence- The separation of powers is important because it helps avoid the misuse and abuse of power given to a person or group

JUDICIAL REVIEW

Review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act

sentence- Lawyers may apply for judicial review of some sentences

FEDERALISM

The system of government under which the national government and local (state) governments share powers

sentence- Having federalism thus implies having a constitutional court to decide whether the center has invaded the components rights

CONFEDERATION

A system in which many decisions are made by external member-state legislation

sentence- In 1867 the confederation of four provinces created the new country of Canada

DUE PROCESS OF LAW

The administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards

sentence- We said we believe in the rule of law, in due process

GERRYMANDERING

Manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class

sentence- Gerrymandering by political is not good for democracy

IMPLIED POWERS

Political power that isn’t specifically in the constitution but can be applied

sentence- George Washington used implied powers to help preserve the Constitution

BUREAUCRACY

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives

sentence- Fighting corruption and fighting bureaucracy have to go hand in hand

REFERENDUM

A general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision

sentence- opponents of the marriage bill say they will challenge it in a referendum this fall

FILIBUSTER

Action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures

sentence- A group of senators plan to filibuster a measure that would permit drilling an Alaska

TREATY

A formally concluded and ratified agreement between

sentence- We are sure that there is no binding treaty between them

ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE

The clause in the first amendment of the US constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion by congress

sentence- The established clause does not separate religion from politics or public, but it does separate church and state

FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE

The free exercise clause prohibits congress from making laws that interfere with the expression of Americans beliefs

sentence- The free exercise clause reserve the right of American citizens to accept any religious belief and engage in religious rituals

EXCLUSIONARY RULE

A law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial

sentence- The police illegally search Bob’s car and found drugs. The drugs will be excluded in the case against Bob in accordance with the Exclusionary rule

PROBABLE CAUSE

Reasonable grounds for belief that an accused person may be subject to arrest or the issuance of a warrant

sentence- The police cant arrest a suspect without probable cause

DOUBLE JEOPARDY

An amendment to the US constitution stating that no person may be compelled to testify against himself and that no person may be tried for a second time on a charge for which he has already been acquitted

sentence- Prior to trial, the defense made a motion to dismiss the grounds of double jeopardy

INDICTMENT

A written accusation charging that an individual named therein had committed an act or omitted to do something that is punishable by law

sentence- The grand jury has handed down indictments against several mobsters

EMINENT DOMAIN

The right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation

sentence- Eminent domain allows the state to confiscate the property of ordinary citizens in the interest of a greater public need

JUDICIAL ACTIVIST

A judge who has no qualms overturning legislature

sentence- The process is not judicial and the government can choose not to accept the recommendations.

DEMOCRACY

A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

sentence- America is one of the few countries with a democracy

GLOBALIZATION

The tendency of businesses, technologies, or philosophies to spread throughout the world

sentence- Today we are living in the era of economic globalization