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

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

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

4. 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

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

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

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

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

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

10. House of Representatives
One of the two houses of the US Congress – approves spending bills.
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11. Judicial
The branch of government that interprets the laws and makes sure that they are fair.
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12. Legislative The branch of government that makes the laws
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13. Preamble
An introductory statement that explains the purpose and guiding principals of a document.
Ex: The Preamble to the US Constitution

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. Senate
One of the two houses of the US Congress- approves Executive appointments
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18. Separation of Powers
A division of responsibilities for government among the three branches.
Ex: Three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, Judicial

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

20. 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.