The Constitution
A change or addition made to the Constitution
What is an amendment
The branch of government that makes the law; at the federal level, it includes Congress
What is the legislative branch
A proposed law
What is a bill
A party system where two major political parties dominate the government; the United States is an example of this system
What is a two-party system
The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution
What are the Bill of Rights
The government position that steps in for the president if he is unable to continue to serve; also serves as the President of the Senate
What is the vice president
The ability of a president to reject a bill instead of signing it into law
What is a veto
A voter / citizen that does not specifically identify with either the Republican Party or Democratic Party
What is an independent
Limits on government power requiring that power be balanced among the different government institutions by having each institution having checks on the other institutions’ powers
What is checks and balances
The top executive leader of a state government
What is a governor
A crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death
What is a felony
Each individual part of a political party’s platform
What is a plank
Process by which the president can be charged with some type of criminal wrongdoing by the House of Representatives; the Senate would hold a trial to decide whether the president was guilty and should be removed from office
What is impeachment
The top law enforcement officer of a county
What is a sheriff
A tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it
What is a filibuster
A preliminary election to select the candidates to run for an office
What is a primary election
The power of the Supreme Court established by Marbury v. Madison which allows the court to determine whether acts of Congress and the President are allowable according to the U.S. Constitution
What is judicial review
Another name for a city; it is also a government created by a charter granted from the state government
What is a municipality
An authorization issued by a magistrate or other official allowing a constable or other officer to search or seize property, arrest a person, or perform some other specified act
What is a warrant
A political organization established by a corporation, labor union, or other special interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money
What is a political action committee or PAC