The Constitution: A More Perfect Union Vocabulary

The system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other two branches.

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism

• Interest Group

• Majority Rule

The part of government that carries out, or executes, the laws.

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Review

The Constitutional system that shares power between the national and state government.

• Separation of Power

• Popular Sovereignty

• Majority Rule

• Federalism

An organization that actively promotes the view of some part of public on specific issues in order to influence government policy.

• Interstate Commerce

• Interest Group

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

Trade and other business dealings between two or more states.

• Interstate Commerce

• Federalism

• Interest Group

• Checks and Balances

The part of government, consisting of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, that interprets laws.

• Judicial Review

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

The power of the Supreme Court to decide whether laws and acts made by the Legislative and Executive Branches are constitutional.

• Judicial Review

• Judicial Branch

• Executive Branch

• Legislative Branch

The lawmaking part of government, called legislature. To legislate is to make a new law.

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Separation of Power

A basic principle of democracy that says laws are passed by majority vote and elections are decided by a majority of voters.

• Majority Rule

• Separation of Powers

• Popular Sovereignty

• Federalism

The idea that the government authority comes from the people.

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism

• Majority Rule

• Popular Sovereignty