Checks and Balances

System where each branch of gov. can limit the powers of the other branches

Commerce Clause

Give Congress the power to regulate interstate and international commerce (Article I, Section 8)

Conservative Ideology

Political belief in limited gov., free markets, individual liberties, and traditional values

Due Process

Constitutional guarantee of fair and legal procedures (5th and 14th Amendments)

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments

Fiscal Policy

Government policy related to taxation and spending to influence the economy

Iron Triangle

The relationship among bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees

Judicial Activism

Philosophy that the courts should actively interpret the Constitution to reflect contemporary conditions

Judicial Restraint

Philosophy that courts should defer to elected branches and avoid making policy

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional (established by Marbury v. Madison)

Liberal Ideology

Political belief in active gov., social equality, and individual rights

Monetary Policy

Gov. control of the money supply and interest rates, usually managed by the Federal Reserve

Necessary and Proper Clause

Grants Congress the power to make all laws needed to carry out its duties (Article I, Section 8)

Original Intent

Interpretation of the Constitution based on what the framers meant at the time it was written

Prior Restraint

Gov. action that prohibits speech or other expression before it can take place; generally unconstitutional

Purse Power

Congress's ability to influence policy by controlling spending and funding

Rule of Law

Principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable under the law

Selective Incorporation

Process by which parts of the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the 14th Amendment

Separation of Powers

Division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws (Article VI)