POS Lecture 1

Pos 2041

A course focused on American Federal government, taught by Mrs. Yannis.

Constitution

The foundational legal document outlining the structure and functions of the U.S. government.

Branches of Government

The three divisions of government:legislative, executive, and judiciary.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a national government and state/local governments.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government responsible for making laws.

Executive Branch

The branch of government headed by the President, responsible for enforcing laws.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that interprets laws and administers justice.

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights protected by law from governmental interference.

Presidential System

A system where the President is both the head of state and government, separate from the legislative branch.

Parliamentary System

A system where the head of government (Prime Minister) is part of the legislative branch.

Unitary System

A system of government where power is centralized in one location.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States, which created a weak central government.

Declaration of Independence

A document declaring the colonies' independence from Great Britain, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights.

Revolutionary War

The conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain that led to American independence.

Federal Government

The national government of the United States, which shares power with state and local governments.

Ratification

The formal approval process of the Constitution or amendments.

Preamble

The introductory statement of the Constitution outlining its purposes.

Supremacy Clause

A clause in the Constitution establishing that federal law takes precedence over state law.