Constitutional powers

Individual rights

Protections that ensure individuals do not suffer from the interference of the government or other people.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of the government comes from the people agreeing to be governed.

Federalism

Sharing power between the national (federal) government and states.

Executive

The branch of government responsible for executing laws.

Legislative

The branch of government responsible for making laws.

Judicial

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws.

Coequal

Equal with one another in importance, describes the three branches of the U.S. government.

Separation of powers

The division of executive, legislative, and judicial powers into different bodies of government.

President

The elected head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Vice President

The executive ranking below the president.

Cabinet

Department heads appointed by the president who advise the executive.

Bicameral

Having two chambers, describes the U.S. government.

Congress

The legislative or law-making body of the U.S. government.

Senate

A 100-member body of lawmakers elected by people in their states.

House of Representatives

A 435-member body of lawmakers elected by people in their home districts.

Constituent

A voter, part of the voting population represented by an elected official.

Committee

A group charged with a specific duty.

Veto

The rejection of a decision or proposal.

Impeachment

The process of charging a government official with wrongdoing.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the U.S. whose decisions become the standard.

Unconstitutional

Contrary to the principles of the Constitution and thus not allowed.

Majority opinion

The opinion that most justices agree to and thus the Supreme Court's decision.

Dissenting opinion

The opinion that disagrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling.

Checks & balances

The system that allows the interactions between branches of the U.S. government to prevent too much power in any one branch.