Chapter 3 Vocabulary

1. Preamble: is not actually a law or a legal document, but it is used to make it clear what to
expect in the Constitution.
2. Articles of the Constitution: an agreement among the 13 original states of the United States of
America that served as its first constitution. It was approved, after much debate, by the Second
Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and sent to the states for ratification.
3. Rule of Law: the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-
defined and established laws.
4. Separation of Powers: an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of
government in separate bodies.
5. Checks and Balances: 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.
6. Veto: a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.
7. Judicial Review: review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative
act.
8. Unconstitutional: not in accordance with a political constitution, especially the US
Constitution, or with procedural rules.
9. Federalism:the federal principle or system of government.
10. Constitutional Amendment: a modification of the constitution of a polity, organization or other
type of entity
11. Formal Amendment: that has gone through one of the processes outlined in Article V of the
Constitution and adds to or changes the Constitution's wording. It has been ratified by the states
and has become law.
12. Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791 and
guaranteeing such rights as the freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship.
13. Treaty: a formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.
14. Executive Agreement: an international agreement, usually regarding routine administrative
matters not warranting a formal treaty, made by the executive branch of the US government
without ratification by the Senate.
15. Electoral College: a body of electors chosen or appointed by a larger group.
16. Cabinet: (in the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries) the committee of senior
ministers responsible for controlling government policy.
17. Senatorial Courtesy: a custom whereby presidential appointments are confirmed only if
there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's state, especially from the
senior senator of the president's party from that state.