US Government Word List WL#2

adjourn

to temporarily cease or permanently close legislative business

allegiance

loyalty and national attachment

amendment

an addition to a legislative act or bill

article

a separate and distinct part of a written contract divided into sections

ballot

a secretive written choice in an election

bicameral

two chambers system in a house or body of legislators

bill

a proposed law not yet approved by the legislature

cabinet

a body of advisors to a head of state

census

an official count or survey of a population

citizen

a legally recognized subject of a nation or state

congress

a term for a legislative assembly

currency

a system of money in acceptable use in a country

debt

any financial obligations owed

district

a territorial division of a state

duty

a moral or civic obligation

election

the event wherein voters make electoral choices

elector

a specific voting member as chosen by the voters

electorate

the voters

federal

central government with powers shared between national and state governments

flip

to switch the control of a congressional seat from one party to another by vote

Framers

the architects of the US Constitution

gerrymander

to divide or arrange a district in a way that gives an unfair advantage to one party over another

impeach

to duly remove from office by vote

judicial

of or pertaining to judges and the courts

lame ducks

outgoing elected officials whose successors have already been elected but have not yet been sworn in

law

the rules and regulations as approved by a legislature

legislate

the action and process of making law

legislature

the body of law makers

negotiation

give-and-take discussion

oath

a sworn pledge

poll

the record of a vote or of an opinion

population

the quantity of people in a given region

power

the capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others

preamble

a written statement placed in front of an important declaration

president

one who presides over, leads, or directs a body of legislators

quorum

the minimum number of members present to make a meeting valid

ratify

to formally approve by a state or national legislative body

runoff

a two-round system of election held when no candidate receives a majority of the votes in the first round

suffrage

the right to vote

taxation

a compulsory contribution to state revenue levied by the government

term

a designated length of time in office

tranquility

a condition of peace and harmony

treason

a betrayal of one's country or allegiance; disloyalty to the country

treasury

the government's finances; funds held or the department that manages them

treaty

an agreement between nations ratified by the participating nations' legislative bodies

trial

a formal examination of evidence before a judge or jury

union

the act or fact of joining together

veto

a constitutional right to reject a proposed law or decision

welfare

the health, happiness, and fortunes of a group

writ

the written command of a court or legal authority