click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
U.S Government
U.S Government Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Articles of Confederation | the first, weak plan of our national government |
| Republic | a form of government in which people elect representatives to run the government |
| Great Compromise | the delegates' agreement to have a 2-House Congress |
| House of Representatives | one of the Houses of Congress. Number of Representatives is based on population |
| Senate | one of the Houses of Congress. There are 2 Senators from each state |
| Speaker | presides as the leader of the House of Representatives |
| Legislative Branch | main task is to make laws |
| Judicial Branch | interprets laws, settles trouble between states, and decides federal law cases |
| Executive Branch | carries out federal laws, directs national defense and foreign policy, and performs ceremonial duties |
| Supreme Court | head of the Judicial Branch |
| Amendments | changes in the Constitution |
| Preamble | the introduction to our Constitution |
| Separation of powers | the division of powers among the three branches of the national government |
| Veto | when the President rejects a bill |
| Impeach | to accuse a government official of a crime |
| Justices | judges on the Supreme Court |
| Bill of Rights | the first 10 amendments to our Constitution |
| Democracy | a form of government in which people rule and are free to make choices about their lives and their government |
| Checks and Balances | a system that keeps each branch of government from becoming too powerful |
| Congress | the lawmaking branch. Its powers include: raising an army and navy, declaring war, coining and printing money |
| Cabinet | a group of the President's most important advisors |
| President | head of the Executive Branch |
| Constitution | the law of our country; it consists of the Preamble, three branches, and amendments |