Federalism

Local Government

100

Term for local law

Ordinance

*Local governments can create and enforce laws

200

The two types of local government that have mayors

Cities and towns

300

A document that lists the powers of individual cities in Virginia

Charter

400

Legislative body that makes laws for counties

Board of Supervisors

*Each county elects members to form this legislative body

500

Cities and towns have mayors while counties have this

County managers or county administrators

State Government

100

Highest court in Virginia

The Supreme Court of Virginia

*Interprets laws 

200

Head of the executive branch at the state level 

The governor

*Enforces state laws

300

Forms the legislative branch at the state level

The General Assembly

*Makes state laws

400

Document written by James Madison that explained a large republic was needed to control the effects of factions

Federalist No.10

500

Groups within the executive branch that help regulate specific areas like health and education

Regulatory boards

National Government

100

The three branches of government

Legislative, executive, and judicial

*The state and local governments also have these three branches

200

The lawmaking branch of government

The legislative branch

*This also applies to the state and local governments

300

This branch enforces laws

The executive branch

*This also applies to the state and local governments

400

This branch interprets laws

The judicial branch

*This also applies to the state and local governments

500

The two houses in Congress

The House of Representatives (435 members and the Senate 100 members)

Fundamental Principles

100

A system where power is divided and shared between the national, state, and local governments

Federalism

200

The concept that government power is divided or separated between the three branches

Separation of Powers

300

We live in this type of government 

A democracy

400

The idea that each branch can limit or check the power of the other keeping any one branch from becoming too powerful

Checks and balances

500

Everyone, even the President has to follow the law

Rule of law

Whose Power?

100

Individuals can have the greatest influence on the decisions made at this level of government

Local

200

These levels of government can levy and collect taxes

National, state, and local

300

These two people can sign or veto laws

The President (national) and the Governor (state)

400

These two bodies makes laws and override presidential vetoes  

Congress (national) and the General Assembly (state)

500

The power to declare laws unconstitutional 

Judicial review

*Only the judicial branch can do this