Chapter 2 AP Gov Vocab.txt

God’s or nature’s law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative executive and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

a constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate

governance divided between the parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress

strong allegiance to one’s own political party, often leading to unwillingness to compromise with members of the opposing party

an election in which voters choose party nominees

a procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters

a procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution

a procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term

community authority or government agency in charge for employing autonomous authority over a few areas of human activity in a regulatory or supervisory capacity

an agency that exists outside of the federal executive departments in the United States. Such an agency is constitutionally a part of the Executive branch but is independent of Presidential authority

the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or, in a state court, the state constitution. The Supreme Court got this power through the case Marbury v. Madison

a court order directing an official to perform an official duty

going to the Supreme Court to find a law unconstitutional

Congressional legislation that gives further meaning to the Constitution based on sometimes vague constitutional authority, such as the necessary and proper clause (allows Congress to pass laws instead of amendments)

a formal accusation by the lower house of a legislature against a public official, the first step in removal from office

a directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law

the power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security

Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated