Unit 11 Government Vocabulary

Front

What is the "Checks and Balances" system?

Back

Balances power between 3 branches of government to keep one from becoming more powerful

Answer explanation

Checks and BALANCES - so you can remember this by remembering what balance means: to keep things equal :)

Front

Separation of Powers

Back

Divides the power between the 3 governments

Answer explanation

When you think of SEPARATION of POWERS - think about it like this: The government has the POWER, but it has to SEPARATED equally among the 3 branches :)

Front

Voting Qualifications

Back

The required criteria for a person to vote; being 18 and a US citizen

Answer explanation

To qualify for something means to make it, so voting qualifications are the things that make it to where you can vote! The things you MUST have to QUALIFY to VOTE :)

Front

What does the "Legislative Branch" do?

Back

Make the laws

Answer explanation

Legislative Branch is who make the laws! The Legislative (L) = Laws :)

Front

Legislation

Back

Legislation are acts approved by the legislative branch and approved by executive

Answer explanation

Legislation sounds very similar to Legislative, so think of those two being connected in making laws :)

Front

Taxes

Back

Money paid by citizens to the state, local, and federal government

Answer explanation

I'm sure you've heard your parents talk about taxes before, so just think about "getting taxed" is like government taking money from you :)

(Actually :( but it's apart of adulting)

Front

Tax Revenues

Back

The money collected by the government from taxes.

Answer explanation

A little hack for remembering that Tax Revenues is the money made by the government from taxes is this:

REvenue = REceive

So Tax REvenue = Money REceived :)

Front

What does the "Executive Branch" do?

Back

Enforces laws

Answer explanation

To help you remember that the Executive Branch ENFORCES laws, remember the E

Executive = Enforce :)

Front

Civil Laws

Back

Laws created to deal with relationships between individuals

Answer explanation

To keep things civil, means to get along! So think "Civil laws" are to help people get along :)

Front

Criminal Laws

Back

Laws that are created to protect society from wrongdoers

Answer explanation

Laws are made to protect people, so CRIMINAL laws are made to protect people from crimes and the people who do them :)