State and Local Gov Exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2098ce
1. Limited govern- the principle that government power over the individual is limited, that there are
ment some personal liberties that even a majority cannot regulate, and that government
itself is restrained by law.
2. Constitutional- a government of laws, not people, operating on the principle that governmental
ism power must be limited, that government officials should be restrained in their
exercise of power over individuals.
3. Constitution the legal structure establishing governmental bodies, granting their powers, de-
termining how their members are selected, and prescribing the rules by which
they make their decisions. Considered basic or fundamental, a constitution cannot
be changed by ordinary acts of government bodies
4. Bill of Rights in state constitutions, written protections for basic freedoms; most resemble the
Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution but some extend these rights.
5. Separation of the constitutional allocation of powers among the three branches of government:
Powers legislative, executive, and judicial
6. Bicameral a legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses
7. Legislative pro- the state legislature places a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voter
posal approval
8. popular initiative registered voters sign a petition to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot
for voter approval.
9. representative popular participation in government through the selection of public officials by a
democracy vote of the people in periodic, competitive elections in which candidates and voters
can freely express themselves.
10. direct democracy popular participation in government through direct voter initiation of policy and
voter approval or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.
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, State and Local Gov Exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2098ce
11. initiative a device by which a specific number or percentage of the voters may petition
to have a constitutional amendment or law placed on the ballot for adoption
or rejection by the electorate; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S.
Constitution.
12. referenda proposed laws or constitutional amendments submitted to the voters for their
direct approval or rejection; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S.
Constitution.
13. recall an election to allow voters to decide whether to remove an elected official before
his or her term expires.
14. special interests specific groups bound together by their common preferences on key policy issues
15. Federalism a constitutional arrangement whereby power is divided between national and
sub-national governments, each of which enforces its own laws directly on its
citizens and neither of which can alter the arrangement without the consent of the
other.
16. Unitary system constitutional arrangement whereby authority rests with the national government;
sub-national governments have only those powers given to them by the national
government
17. confederation constitutional arrangement whereby the national government is created by and
relies on sub-national governments for its authority.
18. reserved powers powers not granted to the national government or specifically denied to the states
in the Constitution that are recognized by the 10th amendment as belonging to
the state governments.
19. Grants-In-Aid payments of funds from the national government to state or local governments or
from a state government to local governments for specific purposes
20. federal grants-in-aid to state or local governments for specific purposes or projects
2/7
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2098ce
1. Limited govern- the principle that government power over the individual is limited, that there are
ment some personal liberties that even a majority cannot regulate, and that government
itself is restrained by law.
2. Constitutional- a government of laws, not people, operating on the principle that governmental
ism power must be limited, that government officials should be restrained in their
exercise of power over individuals.
3. Constitution the legal structure establishing governmental bodies, granting their powers, de-
termining how their members are selected, and prescribing the rules by which
they make their decisions. Considered basic or fundamental, a constitution cannot
be changed by ordinary acts of government bodies
4. Bill of Rights in state constitutions, written protections for basic freedoms; most resemble the
Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution but some extend these rights.
5. Separation of the constitutional allocation of powers among the three branches of government:
Powers legislative, executive, and judicial
6. Bicameral a legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses
7. Legislative pro- the state legislature places a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voter
posal approval
8. popular initiative registered voters sign a petition to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot
for voter approval.
9. representative popular participation in government through the selection of public officials by a
democracy vote of the people in periodic, competitive elections in which candidates and voters
can freely express themselves.
10. direct democracy popular participation in government through direct voter initiation of policy and
voter approval or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.
1/7
, State and Local Gov Exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2098ce
11. initiative a device by which a specific number or percentage of the voters may petition
to have a constitutional amendment or law placed on the ballot for adoption
or rejection by the electorate; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S.
Constitution.
12. referenda proposed laws or constitutional amendments submitted to the voters for their
direct approval or rejection; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S.
Constitution.
13. recall an election to allow voters to decide whether to remove an elected official before
his or her term expires.
14. special interests specific groups bound together by their common preferences on key policy issues
15. Federalism a constitutional arrangement whereby power is divided between national and
sub-national governments, each of which enforces its own laws directly on its
citizens and neither of which can alter the arrangement without the consent of the
other.
16. Unitary system constitutional arrangement whereby authority rests with the national government;
sub-national governments have only those powers given to them by the national
government
17. confederation constitutional arrangement whereby the national government is created by and
relies on sub-national governments for its authority.
18. reserved powers powers not granted to the national government or specifically denied to the states
in the Constitution that are recognized by the 10th amendment as belonging to
the state governments.
19. Grants-In-Aid payments of funds from the national government to state or local governments or
from a state government to local governments for specific purposes
20. federal grants-in-aid to state or local governments for specific purposes or projects
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