1. Constitutional Government Definition- A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.

Constitutional Governments concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign states to companies and unincorporated associations.

2. Parliament Definition- the group of people who are responsible for making the laws in some kinds of government The parliament has authority over the armed forces

3. Republic Definition- 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. Irelands government type is a republic.

4. Inalienable Rights Definition- Rights that will not be taken away from a citizen. They cannot strip your inalienable rights if you are a US citizen.

5. Popular Sovereignty Definition- a doctrine in political theory that government is created by and subject to the will of the people The term popular sovereignty originates as far back as pre civil war.

6. Social Contract Theory Definition- an actual or hypothetical agreement among the members of an organized society or between a community and its ruler that defines and limits the rights and duties of each Most countries are under the impression of the social contract theory.

7. Rule of Law Definition- the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws. Everyone must obey the same laws and listen to the rules.

8. Suffrage

Definition- the right to vote in political elections. The womans suffrage acts in the early 1900s were a big deal in US history.

9. Checks and Balance Definition- counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups. A system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts is a government that uses checks and balances.

10. Confederation Definition- a group of people, countries, organizations, etc., that are joined together in some activity or effort The smaller nations were forced to form a confederation out of self-defense.

11. Proportional Representation Definition- a system in which the number of seats held by members of a political party in a legislature (such as a parliament) is determined by the number of votes its candidates receive in an election. If the US did not hold a proportional representation then the county would be much different.

12. Necessary and Proper Clause Definition- a section of the United States Constitution that enables congress to create laws required for the enaction of its powers. The United States of America practices a necessary and proper clause throughout their government.

13. Supremacy Clause Definition- Article VI, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution, known as the Supremacy Clause, establishes the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes, and U.S. Treaties as "the supreme law of the land." The Supremacy Clause helps make up the laws of the US government.

14. Separated Powers Definition- the allocation of executive, legislative, and judicial powers to branches of government independent of each other The US separated their three branches of government which is an example of separated powers.

15. Judicial Review Definition- The constitutional authority vested in courts and judges to hear and decide justiciable cases, and to interpret, and enforce or void, statutes when disputes arise over their scope or constitutionality. Some people say the key to a successful government is a balance in Judicial Powers.

16. Federalism Definition- the distribution of power in an organization (as a government) between a central authority and the constituent units Federalism is a known type of government around the world.

17. Due Process of Law Definition- The constitutional guarantee of due process of law, found in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, prohibits all levels of government from arbitrarily or unfairly depriving individuals of their basic constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. The fifth amendment states that a citizen shall not be deprived of liberty without a proper due process of law.

18. Gerrymandering Definition- manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class. Nixon was caught gerrymandering when the Watergate scandal happened.

19. Implied Powers Definition- Implied powers, in the United States, are those powers authorized by a legal document which, while not stated, seem to be implied by powers expressly stated. A power that is reasonably necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of a power expressly granted is an implied power.

20. Bureaucracy Definition- a large group of people who are involved in running a government but who are not elected. An administrative policy-making group is also known as a bureaucracy.

21. Referendum Definition- an event in which the people of a county, state, etc., vote for or against a law that deals with a specific issue : a public vote on a particular issue. A vote on a measure so submitted can also be recognized as a referendum.

22. Filibuster Definition- the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly They engaged in a filibuster that lasted for over a week.

23. Veto Definition- an authoritative prohibition The president cast his veto for the new bill.

24. Treaty Definition- an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation In accordance with a treaty between the United States and the tribes of the Pacific Northwest, commercial fishing of certain kinds of salmon is limited to Native Americans.

25. Establishment Clause Definition- the clause in the First Amendment of the US Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion by Congress. The establishment clause was apart of the US amendments.

26. Free Exercise Clause Definition- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion The US cannot legally have a national religion, you can individually practice any religion you want.

27. Exclusionary Rule Definition- a law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial. There are many exclusionary rules applied in the US constitution.

28. Probable Cause Definition- reasonable grounds (for making a search, pressing a charge, etc.). The police officer was legally able to search the car with no warrant because of probable cause.

29. Double Jeopardy Definition- the prosecution of a person twice for the same offense.
The act of prosecuting a defendant a second time for an offence for which he has already been tried is also known as double jeopardy.

30. Indictment Definition- an official written statement charging a person with a crime The grand jury has handed down indictments against several mobsters.

31. Eminent Domain Definition- a right of a government to take private property for public use.
The state took the homes by eminent domain to build the new road.

32. Globalization Definition- the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets. The future economy may be different if globalization keeps happening.

33. Democracy Definition- a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting The nation has chosen democracy over monarchy.

34. Laissez-Faire Definition- The idea that there should be minimal government involvement in economic affairs. Some people believe in laissez-faire and some people believe the government should control more in their life.

35. Oligarchy Definition- Rule by a few small groups of people, usually members of the military or the economic elite. Oligarchy type of government were a lot more common in the past.

36. Standing Committees Definition- Permanent committees of the House of Representatives that address the major areas in which most proposed laws fall such as agriculture, the budget, and the armed services. The current standing committee is just terrible!

37. Dictatorship Definition- A system of rule in which one person, a dictator, or a small group of peole can hold unlimited power over government, which is usually controlled by force. Many countries images are ruined because they have been run by a dictatorship.

38. Fiscal Policy Definition- A governments policy of taxation and spending. Many countries fiscal policies differ in multiple ways.

39. Isolationism Definition- A policy of avoiding involvement in foreign affairs I wish the US took part in the idea of isolationism.

40. Mass Media- Any means of communication that provides information to a large audience, including magazines, radio, television news, and news on the web. Mass media effects our government currently more than it should.