Checks and Balances

1. Checks and balances- System of overlapping the powers of legislative, executive, and the judicial branches to permit each branch to check the action of others.

2. Bill of Rights- the first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. They set out the great constitution guarantees of freedom of belief and expression of freedom and security of the person, and of fair and equal treatment before the law.

3. Executive Agreement- a Pact made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which (unlike a treaty) does not require a state consent.

4. Formal Amendment- Change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the constitution itself through one of the four methods set forth in the constitution.

5. Judicial Review- the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes within the society.

6. Unconstitutional- Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null, and void, of no disputes within the society.

7. Act of Admission- A congressional act admitting a new state to the union.

8. Extradition- The legal process by which fugitive from justice in one state is returned to the state.

9. Grant in aid program- Grants of federal money or other resources to states, cities, counties, and other local units.

10. Inherent powers- Powers to the constitution is presumed to have delegated to the national government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community.

11. Implies powers- One of the basic axioms of constitutional law is that Congress may take no action that is not authorized by the Constitution.

12. Expressed Powers- In order to further guarantee the limits of the new national government, the Constitution grants expressed powers; those powers expressly stated in the Constitution.

13. Concurrent Powers-Those powers that both the national government and the states possess and exercise.

14. Delegated Powers-Enumerated Powers are powers given to the federal government by the terms of the U.S. Constitution.

15. Reserved Powers- powers not delegated to federal government by U.S. Constitution and not denied to states.

16. Enabling act-An enabling act is a piece of legislation by which a legislative body grants an entity which depends on it for authorization or legitimacy the power to take certain actions.

17. Privileges and Immunities Clause-No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.

18. Interstate Compacts-Formal agreement entered into with the consent of congress, between or among the