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| Vocabulary |
abolish: To do away with, annul or destroy completely. amend: To change. amendment: The formal alteration or adding to a document or record. A statement of such an alteration or addition: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote. Anti-Federalist: An opponent of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. appoint: To select or designate to fill an office or a position: appointed her the chief operating officer of the company. approve: To consent to officially or formally; confirm or sanction: The Senate approved the treaty. Articles of Confederation: The agreement that was first made by the original 13 states of the United States. They were adopted on March 1, 1781, and remained the supreme law until March 1789. bicameralism: Composed of or based on two legislative chambers or branches: a bicameral legislature. bill: A draft of a law presented to a legislature for enactment. Bill of Rights: The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, added in 1791 to protect certain rights of citizens. branches: Limited parts of a larger or more complex unit or system, especially: An area of specialized skill or knowledge, especially academic or vocational, that is related to but separate from other areas: the judicial branch of government. cabinet: Persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers. checks and balances: The system whereby each branch of an organization can limit the powers of the other branches. This system was enacted through the Constitution of the United States in order to prevent any of its three branches from dominating the federal government. civic: Relating to a local community. civics: The branch of political science that deals with civic affairs and the rights and duties of citizens. coin (mint): To make pieces of money from metal; mint or strike. commerce: The buying and selling of goods, especially on a large scale, as between cities or nations. committee: A group of people officially delegated to perform a function, such as investigating, considering, reporting or acting on a matter. compromise: To settle by concessions. Congress: The national legislative body of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. conflict: A state of open, often prolonged fighting; a battle or war. A state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas or interests. Constitution: The fundamental law of the United States, framed in 1787, ratified in 1789 and variously amended since then. convention: A formal meeting of members, representatives or delegates, as of a political party, fraternal society, profession or industry. council: An assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation or discussion. A body of people elected or appointed to serve as administrators, legislators or advisors. debt: Something owed, such as money, goods or services. An obligation or liability to pay or render something to someone else. defense: The act of defending against attack, danger or injury. An argument in support or justification of something. delegated powers: To authorize and send (another person) as one’s representative. To commit or entrust to another. delegate: A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy or an agent. A representative to a conference or convention. depression: A period of drastic decline in a national or international economy, characterized by decreasing business activity, falling prices and unemployment. domestic tranquility: Peace on the home front. double jeopardy: The act of putting a person through a second trial for an offense for which he or she has already been prosecuted or convicted. due process: An established course for judicial proceedings or other governmental activities designed to safeguard the legal rights of the individual. executive: The chief officer of a government, state or political division. The branch of government charged with putting into effect a country’s laws and the administering of its functions. federal: Of, relating to or being a form of government in which a union of states recognizes the sovereignty of a central authority while retaining certain residual powers of government. Federalist: A member or supporter of the Federalist Party. federalism: A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority, state and local governments. forbidden powers: Powers denied or restricted by the Constitution. Founding Fathers: Framers of the Constitution. House of Representatives: The lower house of the U.S. Congress and of most state legislatures. Membership is based on the size of the state. implementation: To put into practical effect; carry out: implement the new procedures. independent: Not governed by a foreign power; self-governing. interstate: Involving, existing between, or connecting two or more states. judicial: Of, relating to or proper to courts of law or to the administration of justice: the judicial system. judicial review: A constitutional doctrine that gives to a court system the power to annul legislative or executive acts which the judges declare to be unconstitutional justice. justice: The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards or law. law: A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement or authority. legislative: Having the power to create laws. liberty: The right and power to act, believe or express oneself in a manner of one’s own choosing. local: Of, or relating to, a city, town or district rather than a larger area. local powers: Rules or laws directed at a community. mint: Government facility that prints or coins money. national supremacy: Form of government where the federal government is the highest authority. order and security: Rules or laws that protect the people and promote safety. override: To declare null and void; set aside: override the President’s veto. popular sovereignty: The concept that political and legislative power resides with the citizens. posterity: Future generations. preamble: A preliminary statement, especially the introduction to a formal document, that serves to explain its purpose. president: The chief executive of the United States, serving as both chief of state and chief political executive. One appointed or elected to preside over an organized body of people, such as an assembly or meeting. press (as in freedom of the press): The collecting and publishing or broadcasting of news; journalism in general. The entirety of media and agencies that collect, publish, transmit or broadcast the news. ratify (-ied) (-ication): To approve or give sanction to. representative: One that serves as a delegate or agent for another. A member of the U.S. House of Representatives or of the lower house of a state legislature. representative democracy (republic): A type of democracy in which the citizens delegate authority to elected representatives. reserved powers: Powers that belong to state governments. revenue: The income of a government from all sources appropriated for the payment of the public expenses. search and seizure: Examination of a person’s property by law enforcement officials investigating a crime and the taking of items as potential evidence. self-incrimination: To allow one’s own testimony to make him or her appear guilty of a crime or other wrongful act. Senate: The upper house of the U.S. Congress to which two members are elected from each state by popular vote for a six-year term. separation of power: The doctrine under which the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government are not to infringe upon each other’s constitutionally vested powers. Supreme Court: The highest federal court in the United States, consisting of nine justices and having jurisdiction over all other courts in the nation. The highest court in most states within the United States. tax: A contribution for the support of a government required of persons, groups or businesses within the domain of that government. territory: A geographic area under the jurisdiction of a governmental authority. treaty: A formal agreement between two or more states, as in reference to terms of peace or trade. unconstitutional: Not allowed by the principles set forth in the constitution of a nation or state. Union: The federal joining of states during the period of the American Civil War. veto: An official document or message from a chief executive stating the reasons for rejection of a bill. vice president: An officer ranking next below a president, usually empowered to assume the president’s duties under conditions such as absence, illness or death. welfare: Health, happiness and good fortune; well-being. Receiving regular assistance from the government or private agencies because of need.
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