Government Vocab (Use this set)

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

Public Policies

All of the goals a government pursues and the actions it takes to achieve them.

Legislative Power

The power to make laws and establish public policy.

Executive Power

The power to enforce, administer, and carry out laws.

Judicial Power

The power to interpret laws, settle disputes, and determine their meaning.

Dictatorship

A form of government in which one person or a small group holds absolute power.

Democracy

A government in which supreme authority rests with the people.

State

A body of people living in a defined territory with a government that has sovereignty.

Sovereign

Having supreme and independent authority within a territory.

Autocracy

A government in which a single person holds unlimited political power.

Oligarchy

A government in which a small group exercises control.

Unitary Government

A system in which all governmental power belongs to a single central authority.

Federal Government

A system in which powers are divided between a national government and state governments.

Division of Powers

The constitutional allocation of powers between levels of government.

Confederation

An alliance of independent states that cooperate for common purposes.

Presidential Government

A government system in which executive and legislative branches are separate and independent.

Parliamentary Government

A government system in which executive leaders are chosen by and accountable to the legislature.

Free Enterprise System

An economic system based on private ownership and competition with limited government involvement.

Limited Government

The principle that government powers are restricted by law and a constitution.

Representative Government

A government in which citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.

Magna Carta

The 1215 English document that limited the king's power and established basic legal rights.

English Bill of Rights

The 1689 document that further limited the monarch's power and protected individual rights.

Charter

A written grant of authority or rights from a ruler or government.

Bicameral

Having two legislative chambers or houses.

Proprietary

A colony owned and governed by an individual or group granted authority by the king.

Unicameral

Having one legislative chamber.

Delegate

A representative who acts according to the wishes of those represented.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that government derives its power from the people.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, creating a loose alliance of states.

Ratification

The formal approval of a constitution, amendment, or treaty.

Framers

The delegates who wrote the United States Constitution.

Constitution

A written plan of government that outlines powers and limits.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a strong national government with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal that favored equal representation for all states regardless of population.

Connecticut Compromise

The agreement creating a bicameral Congress with both equal and proportional representation.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution and a stronger national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who favored stronger state governments.

Quorum

The minimum number of members needed to conduct official business.

Veto

The power to reject a proposed law.

Rule of Law

The principle that everyone, including government officials, must obey the law.

Separation of Powers

The division of governmental powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch can limit the powers of the other branches.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to determine whether laws and government actions are constitutional.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between national and state governments.

Amendment

A change or addition to a constitution.

Formal Amendment

A change made through the constitutional amendment process.

Delegated Powers

Powers granted specifically to the national government by the Constitution.

Expressed Powers

Powers directly stated in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers reasonably suggested by the expressed powers.

Inherent Powers

Powers the national government possesses because it is a sovereign state.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states under the Tenth Amendment.

Exclusive Powers

Powers that only the national government may exercise.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both national and state governments.

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional provision stating that federal law is the supreme law of the land.

Enabling Act

A law allowing a territory to prepare for statehood.

Act of Admission

A law admitting a new state into the Union.

Grants-in-Aid Programs

Federal funds provided to state and local governments.

Categorical Grants

Federal grants designated for a specific purpose.

Block Grants

Federal grants given for broad purposes with fewer restrictions.

Interstate Compacts

Agreements between two or more states.

Extradition

The legal process of returning a fugitive to the state where a crime was committed.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

A constitutional provision preventing states from discriminating against citizens of other states.

Bill

A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration.

Floor Consideration

The process in which a bill is debated and voted on by the full legislative chamber.

Oversight Function

Congress's responsibility to monitor and supervise the actions of the executive branch.

Term of Congress

The two-year period beginning on January 3 of odd-numbered years during which Congress serves.

Session of Congress

A period during which Congress meets and conducts business.

Convene

To formally begin or assemble a meeting of Congress.

Adjourn

To end a legislative session.

Recess

A temporary break in a legislative session.

Special Session

A meeting of Congress called outside its regular schedule to address urgent matters.

Apportion

To distribute seats in the House of Representatives among the states according to population.

Single-Member District

An electoral district represented by one elected official.

At-Large

Representing an entire state or area rather than a specific district.

Gerrymandering

The drawing of district boundaries to favor a political party or group.

Off-Year Elections (Midterm Elections)

Elections held between presidential elections.

Incumbent

A person currently holding public office.

Continuous Body

A governing body, such as the Senate, that never has all members replaced at once.

Constituency

The group of people an elected official represents.

Naturalization

The legal process by which a foreign citizen becomes a U.S. citizen.

Necessary and Proper Clause

The constitutional provision allowing Congress to make laws needed to carry out its expressed powers.

Consensus

General agreement among members of a group.

Impeach

To formally accuse a public official of misconduct in office.

Party Caucus

A meeting of party members to discuss policy or select leadership.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer and leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the United States, who serves as the Senate's presiding officer.

President Pro Tempore

The senator who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence.

Floor Leaders

Party leaders who guide legislation through Congress.

Majority Leader

The leader of the majority party in a legislative chamber.

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority party in a legislative chamber.

Whips

Party officials who gather votes and maintain party discipline.

Standing Committee

A permanent congressional committee responsible for specific policy areas.

Subcommittee

A smaller division of a standing committee that handles specialized tasks.

Select Committee

A temporary committee established for a specific purpose.

Joint Committee

A committee composed of members from both the House and Senate.

Conference Committee

A temporary committee formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Joint Resolution

A legislative measure requiring approval by both houses and often used for special purposes.

Discharge Petition

A procedure used to force a bill out of committee for floor consideration.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block action on a bill by extended debate.

Cloture

A procedure used to end a filibuster and bring a matter to a vote.