Federal Structure and the U.S. Constitution: Vocabulary

the part of the U.S. government that makes laws; also called Congress

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• judicial branch

• Supreme Court

the part of the U.S. government that carries out, or executes, laws; led by the president and vice president

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• judicial branch

• Supreme Court

the part of the U.S. government that interprets laws; includes the Supreme Court and all federal courts

• judicial branch

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• veto

a system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches

• checks and balances

• impeachment

• federalism

• Supremacy Clause

to refuse to approve proposals of government

• veto

• impeachment

• federalism

• amendment

the process by which a president or leader has charges brought against them; if convicted of the charges, the leader can be removed from office

• impeachment

• veto

• Supremacy Clause

• federalism

the highest federal court; decides whether laws follow the United States’ Constitution and has the power to undo the decisions of lower courts

• Supreme Court

• Supremacy Clause

• 2 houses of Congress

• People's Court

a system of government in which power is shared between the state and federal governments

• federalism

• amendment

• veto

• checks and balances

clause in the U.S. Constitution that states it is “supreme law of the land"; this means that federal law is above all state and local laws

• Supremacy Clause

• impeachment

• self-government

• Preamble

a government of a state, community, or other body controlled by its members

• self-government

• federalism

• checks and balances

• impeachment