Unit 11 Government Vocabulary

What is the "Checks and Balances" system?

• One branch controls all the other ones

• Balances power between 3 branches of government to keep one from becoming more powerful

• Takes away all government

• Increases government power

Answer explanation

Checks and BALANCES - so you can remember this by remembering what balance means: to keep things equal :)

What is "Separation of Powers"?

• A method to separate citizens from the government

• Says one branch of government controls all the others

• Divides the power between the 3 governments

• Encourages other countries to work together

Answer explanation

When you think of SEPARATION of POWERS - think about it like this: The government has the POWER, but it has to SEPARATED equally among the 3 branches :)

What are "Voting Qualifications"?

• The required criteria for a person to vote; being 18 and a US citizen

• The number of votes each person gets

• How much money it costs to vote

• The rules for you to run for president

Answer explanation

To qualify for something means to make it, so voting qualifications are the things that make it to where you can vote! The things you MUST have to QUALIFY to VOTE :)

What does the "Legislative Branch" do?

• Nothing

• Vote for the president

• Get rid of laws

• Make the laws

Answer explanation

Legislative Branch is who make the laws! The Legislative (L) = Laws :)

What is "Legislation"?

• Legislation is the study of laws

• Legislation refers to the process of getting rid of laws

• Legislation are acts approved by the legislative branch and approved by executive

• Legislation gets rid of the government

Answer explanation

Legislation sounds very similar to Legislative, so think of those two being connected in making laws :)

What are "Taxes"?

• Money paid by citizens to the state, local, and federal government

• Donations made to the government

• Money that the government gives citizens

• The laws the government passes

Answer explanation

I'm sure you've heard your parents talk about taxes before, so just think about "getting taxed" is like government taking money from you :)

(Actually :( but it's apart of adulting)

What are "Tax Revenues"?

• The money collected by the government from taxes.

• Donations to charity

• The amount of money the government spends

• How much taxes are

Answer explanation

A little hack for remembering that Tax Revenues is the money made by the government from taxes is this:

REvenue = REceive

So Tax REvenue = Money REceived :)

What does the "Executive Branch" do?

• Settles arguments

• Conducts elections and votes

• Enforces laws

• Creates laws and regulations.

Answer explanation

To help you remember that the Executive Branch ENFORCES laws, remember the E

Executive = Enforce :)

What are "Civil Laws"?

• Laws that protect the president

• Laws created to deal with relationships between individuals

• Laws made by citizens

• Laws that were made during the civil war

Answer explanation

To keep things civil, means to get along! So think "Civil laws" are to help people get along :)

What are "Criminal Laws"?

• Laws to make criminals better

• Laws made to help criminals

• Laws made by criminals

• Laws that are created to protect society from wrongdoers

Answer explanation

Laws are made to protect people, so CRIMINAL laws are made to protect people from crimes and the people who do them :)