ideas that unite people who believe in democracy

the ability to choose, believe, or do what you want

fairness

when citizens and the government work for the benefit of all (sometimes called “the greater good”)

everyone is treated the same and has the same opportunities, no matter who they are

respect for variety in people’s cultural background, race, and beliefs

the things that individual people are allowed to do

a document that contains the most powerful set of laws in the United States

people in the government should be honest with the citizens and citizens should honest with one another about public issues

the study of how to be a good citizen, including learning about our rules and how we make our rules

the group of people that wrote or debated with each other about the U.S. Constitution, also called “Founding Fathers”

someone who is a member of a place that has a government

the first people to live within a land, in the United States this is often the same people that are called “Native Americans” or “American Indians”

the first part of a document that tells the reader about the document’s purpose

the first 10 amendments (changes) to the U.S. Constitution; includes freedom of speech, religion, and press

everyone should follow the same laws, and when laws are broken, the punishments should be applied fairly

the branch of government that makes laws

the branch of government that enforces laws

the branch of government that interprets laws

one part of the U.S. Congress (along with the Senate), members are elected every two years

the name of the entire legislative branch of the U.S. government

one part of the U.S. Congress (along with the House of Representatives), members are elected every six years

the leader of the executive branch of the U.S. government, elected every four years

serves with the President as second-in-command of the executive branch of the U.S. government, elected every four years with the President

the most powerful court in the United States, members (called justices) serve for life

when the House of Representatives officially accuses someone in the executive or judicial branches of bad behavior

to assign someone to a job or role

a person who officially represents their own country in another country

the power to reject a decision of the legislative branch

goes against a specific idea or general principle in a constitution

the power and authority of the government comes from the people

the government can only do what the people have given it the power to do

power is separated, or divided, among three branches of government

the ability of one branch of government to limit the power of the other two branches of government

national (in the United States)