Binding agreement made by two or more persons or parties compact. Idea that the powers of government should be distributed according to a written or unwritten constitution and that those powers should be effectively restrained by the constitution's provisions. According to the natural rights philosophy, all legitimate government must rest on the consent of the governed. Agreement by the people to set up and live under a government. Benefit or interest of a politically organized society as a whole.Įxercised by both the federal government and the state governments – for example, levying taxes, borrowing money, and spending for the general welfare.
It constituted the basis of the English legal system Body of unwritten law developed in England from judicial decisions based on custom and earlier judicial decisions. Documents granting authority to the original colonies by the British. Standard used to justify limitations on speech that will lead directly to harm to others. Social classes are prevented from moving into other classes. They freed the slaves, granted them citizenship, and guaranteed them the rights of citizens. Thirteenth,ğourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, passed following the Civil War. Continuing efforts to gain the enforcement of the rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution. Laws passed by Congress or state legislatures designed to protect the rights of individuals to fair treatment by private persons, groups, organizations, businesses, and government. citizens by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Protections and privileges given to all U.S. Areas of personal freedom with which governments are constrained from interfering. Body of law that deals with the private rights of individuals, as distinguished from criminal law. Status of being a member of a state, one who owes allegiance to the government and is entitled to its protection and to political rights. Member of a political society who therefore owes allegiance to and is entitled to protection by and from the government. For example, the president may veto legislation passed by Congress, the Senate must confirm major executive appointments, and the courts may declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. Constitutional mechanisms that authorize each branch of government to share powers with the other branches and thereby check their activities. Fanatical patriotism, blind devotion to and belief in the superiority of one's Divisions in society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank, privilege, profession, or occupation. Cabinet secretaries are appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate. Secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the federal government. Organizations that implement government policies. Supreme Court case which declared that "separate-but-equal" educational facilities are inherently unequal and therefore a violation of equal protection of the law guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. The British constitution is unwritten, consisting of common law, acts of Parliament, and political customs and traditions. Framework for running the British government. Ratified in 1791, these amendments limit governmental power and protect basic rights and liberties of individuals.
First ten amendments to the Constitution. Right to control or direct the actions of others, legitimized by law, morality, custom, or consent. Created a weak national government, replaced in 1789 by theĜonstitution of the United States. First constitution of the United States, 1781. Absence of formal legal order also the social context in which legitimate political authority does not exist. Ratified by approval of three-fourths of the states. Proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Changes in, or additions to, a constitution. Anyone not a citizen of the country in which he or she lives. Designed to redress historic injustices committed against racial minorities and other specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of these groups with access to educational and employment opportunities.