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SS Vocab #6
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Constitution | Document that sets act the laws and principles if the government |
| Confederation | An alliance of independent states |
| Articles of Confederation | The first government used in the United States (Only lasted 6 years) 1781-1787 |
| Constitutional Convention | Meeting in Philadelphia where state leaders met to revise the Articles of Confederation(May of 1787) |
| Republic | A government in which citizens rule themselves through elected officials |
| Compromise | A settlement in which each side gives up some of its demands to reach and agreement |
| Federalism | Division of government powers amongst the state of government and the national government |
| Economic depression | A period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall and unemployment rises |
| Separation of powers | A principle of government in which powers are divided among individual and separate branches |
| Executive Branch | This group makes sure that all the laws are carried out and put into effect and includes the President and Vice Presidents |
| Legislative Branch | This group makes the laws and includes the senate and house of Representatives |
| Judicial Branch | This group makes sure that all laws are fair and includes the supreme court |
| Checks and Balances | System where each branch of government can check or control the actions of the other branches |
| Cenus | A periodic government count of population helps determine the number of representatives from each states in the house of representatives, |
| Electoral college | Group of electors from every state who meet every four years to vote for the president and vice president |
| Execute | To carry out the laws |
| Bill | To propose a law |
| Veto | To reject |
| Due prcess | Idea that government must follow the same rule in all cases brought to trial |
| Impeach | To bring formal charges of wrongdoing against a government official |
| Amend | To change |
| Bill of rights | List of freedoms that a government promises to protect; the first 10 amendments to the constitution(1791) |