In this type of government everyone, including all authority figures, must obey laws. Constitutions, statements of rights, or other laws define the limits of those in power so they cannot take advantage of the elected, appointed, or inherited positions.

A system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national, government and state governments

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.

Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

The law making part of government, called the legislature. To legislate is to make a law.

the part of government that carries out, or executes, the laws

A branch of the system of checks and balances that interprets Congressional laws

Has the power to ratify treaties and declare war, and the power to make laws.

Chief Executive of the United States, Head of State and Commander and Chief of the US Armed Forces. The President of the United States is elected every 4 years, by the Electoral College. Signs or veto's bills passed to them by Congress.

Consists of nine justices, each appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress. Appointment is for life. Supreme Court exercises the power to determine constitutionality of statutes

the power to forbid or prevent; to prohibit, reject

A minor change or addition to the Constitution that has been ratified by the states

the lower legislative house of the United States Congress the number of representatives is decided by population

A council of representatives considered the upper legislative house. There are two Senators per state.

protection of the whole country against foreign attack

the common good or what is good for all the people

A person's descendants; future generations.

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

An organization that actively promotes the view of some part of the public on specific issues in order to influence government policy.

The power of the Supreme Court to decide whether laws and acts made by the legislative and executive branches are unconstitutional.

A basic principle of democracy that says laws are passed by majority vote and elections are decided by a majority of the voters

within the country