Question | Answer |
government | an organization in society with the authority to make, carry out, and enforce laws. |
parish | a polictical subdivision within the state of Louisiana |
constitution | a document that explains the braod purpose of a government, describes its organization and states its power. |
federalism | a system of government where the national and state governments share powers. |
checks and balances | a system whereby each branch of government can use its power to keep the other branches from misusing their power. |
veto | to refuse to approve legislation |
executive branch | that branch of government responsible for implementing tha laws passed by the legislature, for operating the state government and for overseeing state services. |
budget | a plan for receiving and spending money |
legislative branch | the branch of government that is the law making body. |
bicameral | describes a legislative body made up of two bodies or houses |
census | to remove or suppress |
reapportionment | the process of revising the boundaries of legislative districts in order to achieve relatively equal populations |
constituent | the people represented by an elected official. |
bill | a proposed law |
judicial branch | that branch of government that interprets and applies the constitution and the laws of the state; consists of courts |
civil law | laws that deal with the relationships between and among individuals |
criminal law | those laws intended to protect society from the wrongdoing of an individual |
jury | a group of ciitzens chosen to hear evidence on a legal case and to make a decision based on the evidence presented. |
taxes | amounts charged citizens by their governments (federal, state and local) to pay for services provided. |
police jury | the form of government used in most of Louisiana's parishes; has five to fifteen elected members. |
home rule | the power of political subdivisions to govern themselves; local self-government |
municipality | city or town |
open primary | an election in which all candidates compete for a position regardless of political party; voters can choose any candidate regardless of political party |
lobbying | the process of trying to influence a legislator about a proposed law |