Unit 9 Local and State Gov. Unit

24327995	popular sovereignty	The concept that political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government. people express themselves through voting and free participation in government.
24327996	limited government	a government structure where its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law, usually in a written constitution. Related concepts are libertarianism and laissez faire economics.
24327997	fundamental law	Laws of basic and lasting importance which may not easily be changed.
24327998	initiative	a citizen petition to place a proposal or constitutional amendment on the ballot, to be adopted or rejected by majority vote, bypassing the legislature.
24327999	statutory law	the body of laws created by legislative statutes.
24328000	police power	the ability of a government to protect its citizens and maintain social order.
24328001	constituent power	the non-legislative power of constitution-making and the constitutional amendment process.
24328002	recall	the act of removing an official by petition.
24328003	item veto	the power to reject particular parts, or items, of a bill.
24328004	clemency	leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice.
24328005	pardon	the act of excusing a mistake or offense.
24328006	commutation	a warrant substituting a lesser punishment for a greater one.
24328007	reprieve	postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution.
24328008	parole	When a governor grants an early release from prison, with certain restrictions.
24328009	common law	what everyone accepts to be against the law; law of the land; not always written down.
24328010	precedent	an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time.
24328011	felony	One of the highest class of offenses, and punishable with death or imprisonment.
24328012	misdemeanor	a crime less serious than a felony.
24328013	civil law	Body of law dealing with private rights of individuals.
24328014	jury	a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law.
24328015	bench trial	A trial without a jury, in which the judge serves as the fact-finder.
24328016	justice of the peace	a local magistrate with limited powers.
24328017	warrant	a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts.
24328018	preliminary hearing	when the prosecuting attorney shows the judge that there is enough evidence to move on.
24328019	magistrate	a public official authorized to decide questions bought before a court of justice.
24328020	appellate jurisdiction	The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.
24328021	referendum	established a procedure by which voters cast ballots for or against proposed laws.