Chapter 4 East of the Mississippi River Political

metropolitan area

having to do with a large city; an area that includes a city and its surrounding suburbs and is a center of culture, education, business, and recreation

tourism

business that provides services to people who are traveling for enjoyment

revenue

income generated by a business

megalopolis

The Boston-Washington corridor is a metropolitan area, home to about 50 million people and is called this

The Supreme Court

The most powerful court in the land

Port Cities

are cities that serve as shipping hubs and what a majority of East Coast cities began as.

Rust Belt

the area of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England where many factories closed during the 1980s

Civil Rights

basic rights that belong to all citizens

Bill of Rights

another name for the first ten amendments to the Constitution

Superfund

the U.S. government's program to clean up hazardous waste sites

Service Industries

business that provides a service instead of making goods

Chicago

US City that was the major railhub by the mid-1800s

FEMA

US Agency responsible for disaster recovery

Legislative Branch

the branch of government that makes the laws and contains Congress

Executive Branch

the branch of government that carries out the laws made by the legislative branch

Judicial Branch

the branch of government that interprets the laws and the Constitution

Atlanta

Southern city that was a symbol of strength and rebirth after it was rebuilt post-Civil War

New Orleans

A major shipping hub along the Mississippi River that is located below sea level and is known for its vibrant culture

Representative Democracy

a form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf (what the US Government is)

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Christianity

The largest religious-group in the United States

Nine

The number of justices that make up the US Supreme Court

Manhattan

New York City borough that is the worldwide center of finance, advertising, and entertainment