Les 1
A part of a state that elects one representative to Congress.
Congressional District
Preside
To be in charge of a meeting or event and make sure it runs smoothly.
Cloture
A vote in the Senate that can end a filibuster and force a decision on a bill.
Having the power to make and enforce rules to keep people safe or make things fair.
Regulatory
The decisions and actions a government takes to deal with issues inside the country.
Domestic Policy
Appeal
Asking a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court.
Common Law
Laws based on past court precedents and traditions rather than written rules.
A court meeting where a judge looks at the evidence to decide if a case should go to trial.
Preliminary Hearing
A person who lives in a certain area and is represented by an elected official.
Constituent
Census
A count of the population that happens every 10 years to help the government plan.
Conference Committee
A group of lawmakers from both the House and Senate that works out differences between two versions of the same bill.
The people and offices that help the president or a leader run the government.
Administration
The president’s right to keep some information secret for national security or decision-making.
Executive Privilege
Writ of Certiorari
An order from the Supreme Court saying it will review a lower court’s case.
Civil Law
Rules that help solve disagreements between people or groups, like arguments over money or property.
To speak in court and tell what you know about a case.
Testify
The leader of the U.S. House of Representatives who helps run meetings and makes important decisions.
Speaker of the House
Instead of a jury, a Judge determines your guilt in criminal court.
Override
When Congress votes to cancel a president’s veto and turn a bill into law anyway.
The president's role as the leader of the military.
Commander in Chief
A past decision that helps guide future decisions in similar situations.
Precedent
Majority Opinion
The official decision of a court, agreed upon by most judges.
Felony
A crime punishable by a minimum of 1 year in prison
A person who brings a complaint to court, saying someone else did something wrong.
Plaintiff
A senior senator who leads the Senate when the Vice President is not there.
President Pro Tempore
Fiscal
Any decision dealing with money or finances.
Partisan
When lawmakers only support ideas from their own political party instead of working with the other side.
A deal made between the president and another country’s leader that does not need approval from Congress.
Executive agreement
A decision made by a judge that someone must follow.
Court Order
Concurring Opinion
A judge’s separate opinion that agrees with the majority but for different reasons.
Misdemeanor
A crime punishable by less than 1 year in prison; often a fine or community service
Extra money that a court makes someone pay as a punishment for doing something very wrong or harmful.
Punitive Damages
To officially charge a government leader with wrongdoing.
Impeach
Standing Committee
A group of lawmakers in Congress that works on bills about specific topics, like education or healthcare, and reviews them before they move forward.
Bipartisan
When lawmakers from different political parties work together to create and pass laws.
The way a country interacts and makes decisions about other countries.
Foreign Policy
A court decision made without a full trial when there is enough evidence to decide the case.
Summary Judgement
Dissenting Opinion
A judge’s opinion that disagrees with the majority decision.
Unanimous
Every voter votes the same way as every other voter
example: 9 to 0
A type of government where one leader or a small group has all the power and people have little to no say in decisions.
Authoritarian
A group of people who work together to influence government decisions.
Interest Group
Non-Legislative Power
Any congressional power not tied to making laws.
Cabinet
A group of advisors who help the president make important decisions.
A formal agreement between two or more countries about peace, trade, or other important issues.
Treaty
A court decision made without a full trial when there is enough evidence to decide the case.
Summary Judgement
Impartial
Being fair and not taking sides.
Grand Jury
A group of people who decide if there is enough evidence for someone to go to trial for a crime.
A government that controls everything in people’s lives, including what they say, do, and even think.
Totalitarian
A person who tries to convince lawmakers to support a certain cause or law.
Lobbyist
Filibuster
When a senator talks for a long time to delay or stop a vote on a bill.
Agency
A part of the government that focuses on a specific job, like keeping food safe or protecting the environment.
A person chosen by the government to represent the country in another country.
Ambassador
The power of a court to hear a case first before any other court.
Original Jurisdiction
Statute law
A law that is written down and officially passed by Congress
Indictment
A formal decision by a group of people (grand jury) that says someone may have committed a serious crime and should go to trial.
When a court decides that someone is not guilty of a crime
Acquit