Branches of Government

bill

a proposal presented to a legislative body for possible enactment as a law

cabinet

the group of officials who head government departments and advise the President

checks and balances

the system set up by the US Constitution in which each branch of the federal government has the power to limit the actions of the other branches

Congress

the legislative, or lawmaking, body of the US government, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives

executive branch

part of a government that carries outor enforces its laws

House of Representatives

lower house of the US Congress in which states are represented according to the size of their populations

impeachment

the process by which the House of Representative makes an accusation of wrongdoing against the President or other high federal officials

judicial branch

part of the government that interprets the laws/ Constitution

judicial review

power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of acts of the legislative and executive branches of the government

law

rule recognized by a nation, state, or community as binding on its members

legislative branch

the lawmaking branch of the government,
Congress

President

the chief executive of a republic like the US

Senate

upper house of the US Congress in which each state has two members

separation of powers

the principle that gives the powers of making, enforcing, and interpreting laws to separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches of goverenment

Supreme Court

the highest federal court and the final interpreter of the Constitution

unconstitutional

an act or law that the Supreme Court rules impermissible under the Constitution

veto

chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Vice President

second in the presidential line of succession, President of the Senate

census

gathering of information on the nation's population; required by the US Constitution every 10 years to determine the number of votes a state had in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College

pardon

a release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime granted by the President