Amendment A minor change in a document Ex: The US Constitution has 27 amendments

Bill of Rights The first 10 amendments of the US Constitution guarantee personal freedoms and rights. Ex: The First Amendment is freedom of speech.

Bills A proposed law Ex: All bills that raise revenue (taxes) must originate in the House eof Representatives.

Checks and Balances Powers and responsibilities are divided among the three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Ex: The President can veto a law passed by Congress

Congress The law making body of the US government: consists of House of Representatives and the Senate. Ex: House of Representatives and the Senate

Constitution A document that explains the principles that a government should be run by. Ex: US Constitution

Electoral College A group of people who formally elect the President of the United States. Ex: Georgia has 16 electors

Executive The branch of the US Government that is in charge of enforcing and implementing laws. Ex: President Obama

Federalism A system of government that share authority over the same territory and people. Ex: United States and the State of Georgia.

House of Representatives One of the two houses of the US Congress – approves spending bills. Create a symbol for this word.

Judicial The branch of government that interprets the laws and makes sure that they are fair. Create a symbol for this word.

Legislative The branch of government that makes the laws Create a symbol for this word.

Preamble An introductory statement that explains the purpose and guiding principals of a document. Ex: The Preamble to the US Constitution

President The person who is in charge of the Executive branch. He is the Head of State and the Head of Government. Ex: President Obama

Ratification The formal approval of a proposed law or a way to change something existing in the government. Ex: The Bill of Rights were ratified after the US Constitution was created.

Representative Democracy A system of government where the citizens elect public officials to make laws and other decisions for them. Ex: We elect members of Congress

Senate One of the two houses of the US Congress- approves Executive appointments Create a symbol for this word

Separation of Powers A division of responsibilities for government among the three branches. Ex: Three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, Judicial

Sovereignty The idea of supreme power or source of authority Ex: In the US the power of the government comes from the people.

Supreme Court The highest court in the US. It has the final interpretation of the federal constitutional law. Ex: The Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional in the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education.