The structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities

laws passed by government to protect natural rights

an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government

Nickname given to the men who created or “founded” the U.S. Constitution.

a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215

a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king; written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689

an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620

a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England

Document written by the American Colonists to announce to the world their reasons for war against the King of England and their desire to be “free” people.

the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments

the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781 and replaced in 1789

The current governing document of the United States of America. It determines the powers and duties of government and protects the rights and freedoms of the people.

The introduction to the U.S. Constitution

a principle of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches

a group of people in the early United States who favored the establishment of a strong national government and who worked for ratification of the U.S. Constitution

a group of people in the early United States who opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they feared a strong national government and a lack of protection for individual rights

to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction

the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, establishing rights and protections for American citizens

a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law

law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs

law that deals with crimes and the punishments associated with those crimes

the interpretation and implementation of the U.S. Constitution

laws that have been developed to meet the needs of the military

a legal member of a state and/or country

something a person is required to do

something a person should do

beliefs or actions that are seen as a benefit to the larger community rather than individual interests, also known as the public good

a change to the U.S. Constitution

To protect

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that outlawed slavery in the United States

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that defines citizenship, grants citizenship to former slaves and defines voters as males at least 21 year of age

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that makes it illegal for the federal or state governments to deny someone the right to vote based on their race

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that grants women the right to vote

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that made poll taxes illegal as a condition for voting

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that lowers the minimum voting age to 18

U.S. Supreme Court case that established judicial review

U.S. Supreme Court case that determined that “separate but equal” segregation was not discrimination

U.S. Supreme Court case that determined that “separate but equal” segregation was not equal in public education

U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the Sixth Amendment right that all defendants must be appointed a lawyer if they cannot afford their own attorney

U.S. Supreme Court cases that upheld the Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination

U.S. Supreme Court case that determined that juvenile court must comply with the Fourteenth Amendment

U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld a student’s First Amendment right to engage in symbolic speech in school

U.S. Supreme Court case that determined that the First Amendment does not protect all types of student speech in school

U.S. Supreme Court case that limited executive privilege

U.S. Supreme Court case that determined that states cannot violate the Equal Protection Clause under the Fourteenth Amendment when undertaking election recounts.

U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm

organizations that seek to gain political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas can be reflected in public policies

a political party that believes that the federal government should play a small role in people's lives; they favor lower taxes and less government spending

a political party that believes that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives, particularly those who are in need

a political party that is not one of the two major parties in the country; a minor party

a document stating the aims and goals of a political party

What does the word "suffrage" mean?

The plural form of the word “medium,” refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, newspapers and the Internet (web) are different types of media. The term can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies.

people who are concerned with some particular issue or part of the government and who try to influence legislators or to act in their favor

a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people

a preference, opinion or attitude that favors one way of thinking or feeling over another

the use of something to represent ideas or qualities

the method of spreading ideas or information for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

point of view

a course of action chosen to guide people in making decisions about their own country

a course of action chosen in order to guide people in making decisions about other countries

groups of governments or people from different countries working together to solve an issue that crosses country borders

an organization founded in 1943 to keep the peace, develop friendly relationships among countries, and improve the quality of life for the world’s poor people; consists of 193 member countries

a group of 28 countries that has agreed to protect each other in case of attack; founded in 1949

a volunteer program run by the United States government that focuses on providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand American culture, and helping Americans to understand the cultures of other countries

an organization established in 1948 within the United Nations that works to improve health throughout the world

an international body founded in 1995 to promote international trade and economic development by reducing taxes and other restrictions

a permanent panel of fifteen judges appointed by the UN to nine-year terms to hear cases; cases argued before the court focus on disputes between nations who agree to accept its decisions(also known as World Court)

a conflict between two different nations or groups

a form of government in which the power to govern lies directly in the hands of the people rather than through elected representatives

a system of government in which the people elect representatives to make policies and laws for them, also known as a republic

an economic system in which the government owns the primary means of production

a form of government in which a single ruling party owns and controls all production and distribution of goods, and in which no private ownership is allowed

a form of government headed by a king or queen who inherits the position, rules for life, and holds power that can range anywhere between limited to absolute

a form of government in which a small group has total control and power

a form of government where one person has unlimited power

a system of government where power lies with the legislative body and the leader of the country is part of the legislature

a system of government where power is shared between a central government and states

a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government

a system of government where almost all power is located with the central government

The portion of the Constitution that describes the roles, powers, functions, and structure of the legislative branch

The portion of the Constitution that describes the roles, powers, functions, and structure of the executive branch

The portion of the Constitution that describes the roles, powers, functions, and structure of the judicial branch

the organization through which political authority is exercised at the national level, government of the United States

the organization through which political authority is exercised at the state level, government of a specific state

the governing body of a municipality or county

the branch of government that creates laws

the branch of government that enforces the laws made by the legislative branch

the branch of government that interprets the laws made by the legislative branch

the local, state, or federal court that is the first to hear a civil or criminal case; involves a hearing with the sharing of evidence and witnesses, and ends with a decision made typically by a jury

a group of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

the title given to judges of the U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court

the document establishing the structure and functions of our state; includes a preamble, 12 articles, amendments, and a Declaration of Rights; it delegates the powers of local governments within the state of Florida