U.S. Government Branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, roles, powers, and procedures across the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of the U.S. Government.

Majority opinion

An opinion written to explain how the court has decided the case, which requires at least 5 justices to agree.

Dissenting opinion

An opinion written to explain why justices disagree with the majority opinion.

Jurisdiction

The power of a court to issue orders and decide cases.

Appeals

A legal process where you ask a higher court to review a decision made by a judge in a lower court.

Criminal cases

Legal cases that regulate the conduct of individuals, define crimes, and provide punishments for crimes.

Civil cases

Legal disputes between private parties where someone claims to have suffered a loss because of another party's actions.

Supreme Court size

There are 9 justices on the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Justice term length

Justices serve on the Supreme Court for as long as they choose.

Supreme Court appointment process

The president nominates someone and a simple majority vote is required to get into power.

Presidential qualifications (Constitutional)

Qualifications listed in the Constitution requiring a candidate to be at least 35 years old, a natural born citizen, and a resident in the U.S. for 14 years.

Commander in chief of the military

Executive role where the president is in charge of the military and can order military action; Congress declares war, and the War Powers Act states the president must tell Congress and ask to continue.

Chief executive

Executive role in which the president controls all of the executive branch and appoints all leaders of the executive branch.

Chief diplomat

Executive role where the president signs treaties, meets with foreign leaders, appoints ambassadors to other countries, and decides whether to officially recognize a foreign country.

Chief legislator

Executive role where the president signs or vetoes bills passed by Congress, gives yearly State of the Union addresses in Congress, and proposes and/or promotes legislation.

Party leader

Executive role where the president acts as leader of his or her political party, promotes candidates for office, helps raise money for campaign running candidates, and gathers support for fellow party candidates.

Crisis manager

Executive role where the president coordinates the government response in times of disaster or crisis, such as hurricanes, terrorist attacks, or mass shootings.

Head of state

Executive role where the president speaks for our nation and represents what other nations think of the U.S., performing duties such as throwing out the first pitch at baseball games and attending funerals of world leaders.

Presidential cabinet

A group of people with the constitutional or legal task to rule a country or a state and help out the president, consisting of the vice president and the 15 heads of executive departments who are nominated and specialize in separate departments.

House of Representatives representation

Each member represents a single Congressional district.

Senate representation

Each member represents the whole state.

Powers of the House of Representatives

Can accuse a government official of a crime and approve/ratify bills.

Powers of the Senate

Approve/ratify bills, hold trials for government officials after the House accuses them, and approve treaties.

House of Representatives leaders

Whips, Majority leader, Minority leader, Speaker of the House.

Senate leaders

Whips, Majority leader, Minority leader, President of the Senate.