Washington State Government Vocabulary

Changes or revisions to legal documents, like the constitution.

• Initiative

• Amendment

• Referendum

• Contract

A legislative branch with 2 chamber or houses, like the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• Oligarchy

• Dictatorships

• Parliament

• Bicameral

A method of dividing power across parts of government in such a way that each part has some control over the others, so that no part becomes too powerful.

• Socialism

• Capitalism

• Checks and Balances

• The Executive Branch

A system of government in which its power comes from the people through the representatives they elect.

• Democratic Republic

• Democracy

• Republic

• Feudalism

A system of government in which power is shared between a central authority and smaller governments.

• Federalism

• Monarchy

• Confederation

• Tribe

An introduction, like the opening passages of the Constitution.

• List of Grievances

• Conclusion

• Preamble

• Amendment

A written proposal for a law.

• A revision

• An idea

• A bill

• A contract

To discuss something in order to resolve different viewpoints.

• direct messaging

• Lecture

• Fight to the death

• Debate

A lawmaker

• Legislator

• Governor

• Police Officer

• Judge

A city or town with its own government.

• Empire

• City state

• Country

• Municipality