Vocabularies for Social Studies

Constitution

The main book of fundamental laws for a country.

Amendment

A change or addition made to a constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten changes to the constitution that protect people's basic rights.

Democracy

A system of government where the people choose their leaders.

Republic

A country where people choose representatives to rule for them.

Monarchy

A country ruled by a king or a queen.

Dictatorship

A country ruled by one leader who has total power.

Totalitarianism

A government that controls every part of people's private and public lives.

Authoritarianism

A system where a government has strict control and limits personal freedom.

Federalism

A system where national and state governments share power.

separation of powers

splitting government power into three different branches– Making laws, enforcing laws, judging laws

Check and balances

A system where each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches.

Legislative branch

The group of people who make laws – Congress.

Executive branch

A branch led by the president that carries out and enforces laws.

Judicial branch

The court system that explains and judges laws.

Congress

The national lawmaking group in the United States.

Senate

The upper House of Congress with two members from every state, total 100.

House of representatives

The Lower house of Congress, where member numbers depend on state population.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the country.

Veto

The power of a president to reject a new law.

Civic duty

An action that citizens are legally required to perform for the benefit of society.

Civic responsibility

An action that citizens should rake to support their community and promote the common good.

Due process

The legal principle that everyone should receive fair treatment under established legal procedures.

Bicameral

Separation of two legislative chambers.

Sovereignty

The supreme power of a country to govern itself.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a government comes from the people.