Civics EOC Vocabulary

A decision by an executive authority such as a president or governor to reject a law passed by the legislative branch

• Veto

• Ratify

• Proposal

• Amend

Legislation that has passed both houses of Congress, has been signed into law by the president or passed despite his veto, and therefore becomes a law

• Bill

• Act

• Statute

• Ordinance

A person (diplomat) sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country

• Delegate

• Ambassador

• Attorney

• Justice

The formal act of forgiving someone or excusing a mistake

• Amendment

• Pardon

• Petition

• Ratification

The power of the judicial branch to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches and determine whether or not they are unconstitutional

• Judicial Review

• Impeach

• Treaty Ratification

• Veto Override

An agreement or arrangement between two or more countries

• Treaty

• Tariffs

• Treason

• Taxes

The power to hear appeals of cases that have been tried in lower courts

• Original Jurisdiction

• Appellate Jurisdiction

Punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; includes torture or other forms of punishment too severe for the crime committed

• Cruel and Unusual Punishment

• Double Jeopardy

• Rule of Law

• Suffrage

A law that makes an act a crime after the crime has been committed

• Ex post facto law

• Rule of Law

• Writ of Habeas Corpus

• Freedom of Speech

To try to influence government officials to make decisions for or against something

• Veto

• March

• Lobby

• Union