Government vocabulary

economy

• the way in which goods and services are made, used, and sold in a country or area

• the way you recycle plastic

• the way you might water your garden in the winter

Answer explanation

California has one of the richest economies in the United States.

elect

• to buy more goods and services

• to delete something you don't need

• to select by voting

Answer explanation

About 138 million people voted to elect the next president in 2016.

federal

• the way the police arrest people in different cities

• the government of the country shares some of the power with smaller regions, like states

• the method for voting

Answer explanation

There are three branches of our federal government: executive, legislative, and judicial.

enforce

• to make something happen

• to force your way into the end

• to go against the law

Answer explanation

Police officers enforce the law by making sure citizens obey the laws of the city.

initiative

• the way a person locates their voting ballot

• being in something

• a legislative idea that starts with the people

Answer explanation

An initiative starts with a petition that people sign so it can be voted on.