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| Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all government power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed. |
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| Basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away. |
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| Basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law. |
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| Concept that holds that government and its officers are always subject to the law. |
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| Basic principle of American system of government, that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government. |
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| System of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others. |
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| Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature. |
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| The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action. |
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| Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect. |
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| A system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments. |
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| A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law. |
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| The first ten amendments to the Constitution. |
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| 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 Senate consent. |
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| A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states. |
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| Group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President. |
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| Presidential advisory body, traditionally made up of the heads of the executive departments and other officers. |
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| Custom that the Senate will not approve a presidential appointment opposed by majority party Senator from the State in which the appointee would serve. |
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