Political Dictionary – Chapter 11

Prepared by Francis Quintero

1. Expressed Powers- powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution. This is important because Congress can’t take advantage of its powers and try to rule everything; this establishes a balance of power.
2. Implied Powers- reasonable deductions from the expressed powers. This is important because it lets the exception of the rule that Congress can make the decision that it thinks are right, if it is not expressed.
3. Inherited Powers- powers delegated to the National Government because it is a sovereign state.
4. Strict Constructionists-people who favor that the national government should have a limit to their powers. This is significant because it is one of the most controversial topics and delicate because if national government is restricted too much there is no point to government and there is chaos.
5. Liberal Constructionists- people who think that government should have to be strong. This is important because if the government is too strong then, the government of the United States is not a democracy, people would not have a say in things.
6. Consensus- general agreement. This is important because if there was no general agreement about government there would not be unity, everyone would do what they wanted because they would not agree and it would not be a government for the majority.
7. Tax- charge levied by government on persons or property to meet public needs. This is important because if there was no income for the government, it would be in more debt than we are now that we do have taxes.
8. Direct Tax- paid by the person on whom it is imposed. If people did not pay directly what they were charge there would be more people not paying taxes and committing crimes.
9. Indirect Tax- one first paid by one person but then passed on to another. This is important because businesses can make money and give more money to the government.
10. Deficit Financing- spent more money than it took in each year and borrowed the difference. This is a lesson learned for government that it is not a smart method of obtaining money.
11. Public Debt- all the money borrowed by the government over the years and not yet repaid, plus the accumulated interest on that money. This is important because government has to balance this and not let it get out if hand, so that the country’s economy is not hurt more.
12. Commerce Power- the power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade. This is important because this institution is large and there are more opinions to make the right decision.
13. Legal Tender- any kind of money that a creditor must by law accept in payments of debts. This is important because there is an opportunity for diversity and change, if you pay too much you can receive change.
14. Bankruptcy- legal proceeding in which the bankrupt’s assets are distributed among those whom the debt is owed to. This is important because the creditors can get their money and the economy will not be hurt and the creditor’s do not loose money.
15. Naturalization- process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another country. This is important because Congress might work better to avoid illegal people in the country and regulate immigration, so that people who live in the country can benefit more because it is their country.
16. Copyright- exclusive rights of an author to reproduce, publish, or sell their creative work. This is important because no one can use someone else’s ideas without their permission.
17. Patent- grants a person to sell, distribute etc a new product, good for up to 20 Years. This is important because people can use their work and be free to establish their own businesses.
18. Eminent Domain- the inherit power to take private property for public use. This is important because if government needs establishment for its facilities or for the well of the people they can build it.
19. Appropriate- assigning a particular use for government funds. This is important because things that are not mentioned in the Constitution can have changes or be created for the better of the people.
20. Necessary and Proper Clause- gives power to Congress to make decisions that are needed, but not mentioned in the constitution, this is important because Congress can make decisions benefiting the people without a big process.
21. Doctrine- principle or fundamental policy. This is important because there is no change but something solid that the government can lean on and agree on to make wise decisions that will affect their constituents.