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