Levels of Government
The system of government inside each town, city, or local community.
Local Government
This section of government is responsible for enforcing laws. At the federal level, the President is the head of this branch.
Executive Branch
When the President refuses to sign a bill sent by Congress, the bill does not become a law.
Veto
The introduction to the U.S. Constitution that describes the main purposes of our Federal government.
Preamble to the Constitution
The group of people in the executive branch who help the president enforce laws.
Cabinet
The system of government for each of the 50 states.
State Government
The section of government that decides if a particular person has broken a law and determines their consequence.
Judicial Branch
Specific powers given to Congress according to the U.S. Constitution.
Delegated Powers
A change, or addition, to the Constitution made by Congress or a Constitutional Convention.
Amendment
A government led by an elected leader, not based on birth right (monarchy/king or queen).
Republic
The system of government for our entire country; its headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
The section of government that makes laws.
Legislative Branch
Powers that both states and the federal government have.
Freedoms and privileges that the Constitution gives to citizens of the United States.
Rights
The highest court in the United States that makes the final decisions about how to interpret the law.
Supreme Court
Ways in which the different branches of government set limits so that other branches don’t have total power. The three branches must therefore
Checks and Balances
One of the two parts of the Legislative Branch at the federal level. Every state has two; the country has a total of 100.
Senate
Power granted to the states; if the Constitution did not specifically give a power to the federal government, then the states have that power.
Reserved Power
Actions or laws that violate or break the rules of the U.S. Constitution.
Unconstitutional
Means that all people must follow the laws of their state and the U.S. The purpose is to protect all people and clarify that no one is above the law.
Justice
All governments must obey the U.S. Constitution; they cannot do whatever they want.
Limited Government
One of the two parts of the Legislative Branch at the federal level. A state with a larger population will have more districts and therefore more representatives.
House of Representatives
The United States government is divided into three branches, and each branch has different powers so that one branch doesn’t become all-powerful.
Separation of Power
Central beliefs that unite people and help them distinguish between right and wrong for the common good of a community or country.
Core Values
The core value stating that a government gets all of its power and the right to rule from the people through their elected representatives.
Popular Sovereignty