The Constitution: Vocabulary

A government in which citizens rule through elected representatives

• Federalism

• Republic

• Checks and Balances

• Separation of Powers

The sharing power between the federal, state, and local governments

• Separation of Powers

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism

• Republic

The branch of government that includes the courts that settle disputes and questions of the law

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

The branch of government that executes, or carries out, the law; headed by the president

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

The branch of government that makes laws; includes members of the Senate and the House of Representatives

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

A change, correction, or improvement added to a document

• Amendment

• Ratify

• Cabinet

• Electoral College

A system by which each branch of government limits the power of other branches

• Amend

• Federalism

• Checks and Balances

• Popular Sovereignty

The belief that government is subject to the will of the people

• Republic

• Federalism

• Popular Sovereignty

• Checks and Balances

What is the Electoral College?

• A group of advisers to the president

• A college in which the presidents learn how to run the country

• a special group of electors chosen to vote for president and vice president

The act of dividing the responsibilities of government into different branches

• Separation of Powers

• Electoral College

• Ratify

• Federalism