Download Unit 3 Vocabulary with definitions

Unit 3 Vocabulary List
Lesson 1:
separation of powers: distribution of political power among the branches of government, giving each branch a particular set of
responsibilities
checks and balances: system in which the powers of government are balances among different branches so each branch can check, or
limit the power of the other branches
concurrent powers: powers shared by the federal government and the states
delegated powers: powers given to the federal government by the Constitution
reserved powers: powers set aside by the Constitution or the states or for the people
veto: a refusal by the president or a governor to sign a bill
judicial review: power of US Supreme Court to determine if a law passed by Congress or a presidential action is in accordance with
the Constitution
impeachment: to charge a government official with a crime
Lesson 2:
Bicameral legislature: lawmaking body that consists of two houses
Senate: House of Congress based on equal representation per state. Each state has 2 senators, for a total of 100 senators in the Senate.
House of Representatives: House of Congress based on population of each state. Each state is guaranteed at least one representative.
There are 435 representatives all together.
Apportioned: to be distributed, as in the seats in the House of Representative
Gerrymandering: the process of drawing congressional district lines to favor a political party
Caucuses: meetings of party leaders to determine party policy or to choose the party’s candidates for public office
president pro tempore: the official who presides over the Senate in the vice president’s absence
Speaker of the House: presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Whip: official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature
implied powers: powers not specifically given to Congress by the Constitution that are suggested to be necessary to carry out powers
delegated to Congress under the Constitution
elastic clause: “necessary and proper clause” that allows Congress to extend its delegated powers
filibuster: method of delaying action on a bill in the Senate by making long speeches
Lesson 3:
State of the Union address: yearly report by the president to Congress describing the nation’s condition and recommending programs
and policies
foreign policy: a country’s plan for dealing with other countries of the world
diplomacy: art of dealing with foreign governments
reprieve: postponement in the carrying out of a prison sentence
pardon: official act by the president or by a governor forgiving a person convicted of a crime and freeing that person from serving his
or her sentence
Cabinet: leaders of the executive departments whop also act as advisors to the president
Secretary of State: the official in the president’s cabinet responsible for foreign policy
Joint Chiefs of Staff: group made up of the highest-ranking officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force that advises the President on
military affairs
Commander in Chief: person or body exercising supreme operational command and control of a nation's military forces
independent agencies: agencies in the executive branch of the federal government formed by Congress to help enforce laws and
regulations not covered by the executive departments
regulatory commission: independent agencies created by Congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators
to court
bureaucracy: many departments and agencies at all levels of government
Lesson 4
Federalism: system of government in which the powers of government are divided between the national government, which concerns
the whole country, and the state governments which govern the people of its state
Full faith and credit clause: provision in the U.S. Constitution ensuring that each state will accept the decisions of the civil courts in
other states
Extradition: legal process for returning criminals to the place where they fled
Implied powers: powers not specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution but are suggested to be necessary to carry out the
powers delegated to Congress by the Constitution
Expressed Powers: powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution
Lesson 5
Referendum: method of referring a bill to the voters for approval before the bill can become a law
Recall: process by which voters may remove an elected official from office
Initiative: process by which citizens of a state may propose a law by collecting signatures on a petition
Constituents: people represented by members of a lawmaking body
Governor: chief executive of a state government
Penal code: a set of criminal laws
Polling location: a place where citizens go to vote
Municipality: unit of local government that is incorporated by the state and has a large degree of self-government
City: largest type of municipality
County: subdivision of state government formed to carry out laws, collect taxes, and supervise elections
Sheriff: chief law-enforcement official in some county governments
Ordinances: regulations that govern a local governmental unit
City council: lawmaking body of a city
Mayor: chief executive of a city government
Lesson 6
Amendment: Official change to the Constitution
Ratification: approval by a formal vote
Repeal: Cancel
Lesson 7
Bear Arms: carry firearms
Seizures: capturing someone or something using force
Double Jeopardy: prosecution of a person twice for the same offense
Due Process: the fair application of the law to one’s case