Legislative Branch

Part of the government that makes laws

Executive Branch

Branch of gov that carries out laws

Judicial Branch

Branch of gov that interprets the laws

Veto

The power to prohibit an act from becoming the law

Federal system of gov

Federalism: Separation of powers between government and states

Checks and Balances

Gov structure in which each branch has the ability to limit the power of the others

Ratify

approve

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments to the constitution

Inauguration

official swearing in ceremony

Precedent

Something done or said that becomes a tradition to be followed

Faction

group concerned with only its own interests

Constitution

a blueprint for US gov/ a plan for the gov

Republic

gov run by the people through elected representatives

Preamble

beginning of the constitution that describes its purpose

Cabinet

the heads of major departments in the executive branch

Three Types of Law

Criminal Law

Civil Law

Administrative

Criminal Law

Deals with people who commit crimes

State vs. Defendant

Civil Law

Civilian files complaint against another civilian

Administrative Law

Regulation from government

maintains and regulates public organizations

Examples: FCC    FDA

Concurrent Powers

Powers held by both state and federal goverenment

The Great Compromise

Determined state representation

Compromise:

Senate: equal representation

House of representatives: Representation based on population

Electorial College

A group of 518 people who are responsible for electing the President

It limits the people's power to elect a President directly

Bill of Rights

1st 10 amendments

Guarantees citiczens their basic rights

Protects the people from a tyrannical (over powerful) goverenment.

Articles of Confederation

Came before the constitution

provided for an elected one-house congress

Represented 13 states

Weaknesses:

Had no national court system

Loose alliance of states

Criteria to be elected President of the United States

Must be naturally born in the United States

Must be at least 35 years old

Must live in the US for 14 years

Powers of the National Government

Interstate and foreign commerce

foreign relations

delcares war

coins money

immigration

postal service

State Powers

Intra state commerce

local governmnets

public health

voter qualification

supervise elections

supervise education

license occupations

Divorce Laws

Three Branches of Government

Legislative

Executive

Judicial

Supreme Court

Highest court in the country

Judges are appointed for life by the president with the consent of the senate

Court may change it's intrepretation of the law based on changes in society

Political Spectrum

Radical-Liberal-Moderate-Conservative-Reactionary

Democrats fall to the left

Republicans fall to the right