8th Grade Vocabulary Unit 1 Basic Social Studies Terms

Definition: sharing power between the federal and state government

• confederation

• federalism

• communism

• democracy

Definition: those who supported a strong central government with authority over the states

• Anti-Federalists

• Federalists

• Confederates

• Monarchists

Definition: those who supported the idea that states would have equal power as did the federal government

• Anti-Federalists

• Federalists

• Monarchists

• Confederates

Definition: the lawmaking branch of government (Senate and House of Representatives known as Congress)

• Executive

• Judicial

• Legislative

• Senatorial

Definition: the lawmaking branch that enforces the laws (Presidency)

• Executive

• Judicial

• Legislative

• Senatorial

Definition: the lawmaking branch that interprets the laws (Supreme Court)

• Executive

• Judicial

• Legislative

• Senatorial

Definition: the special group of electors chosen to vote for president and vice president

• Electoral College

• Senate

• House of Representatives

• Congress

Definitions: a system by which each branch of government limits power of the other branches

• balance system

• checks and balances

• veto and override

• judicial review

Definition: a vote to bring charges of serious crimes against a president

• veto

• override

• filibuster

• impeach

Definition: commands that are signed by the president and have the power of law

• veto

• presidential referendum

• presidential pardon

• executive order