Vocabulary Words to Study for Thursday’s Test (May 25th)

1. Immigrant – an individual who moves permanently to a new country.

2. Citizen – community member who owes loyalty to the government & is entitled to its protection.

3. Civics – the study of the rights & duties of citizens.

4. Representative Democracy – a gov’t in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf.

5. Natural Right – freedoms people possess relating to life, liberty & property.

6. Constitution – a detailed, written plan for government.

7. Confederation – a group of individuals or state governments.

8. Legislative Branch – the lawmaking branch of government.

9. Executive Branch – the branch of government that carries out laws.

10. Judicial Branch – the branch of government that interprets laws.

11. Popular Sovereignty – government receives its power from the people.

12. Limited Government – the principle that a ruler or a government is not all-powerful.

13. Rule of Law – principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern.

14. Separation of Power – the split of authority among the legislative, executive & judicial branches.

15. Checks & Balances – a system in which each branch of gov’t is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others.

16. Senate – the upper house of Congress, consisting of two (2) representatives from each state.

17. House of Representatives – the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population.

18. Constituent – a person from a legislator’s district.

19. Impeach – to accuse government officials of misconduct in office.

20. Lobbyist – representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making.

21. Executive Order – a rule or command the president gives out that has the force of law.

22. Foreign Policy – a nation’s overall plan for dealing with other nations.

23. Cabinet – a group of advisers to the president that includes the heads of 15 top-level executive departments.

24. Judicial Review – the power of the Supreme Court to say whether any federal, state or local law or government action goes against the Constitution.

25. Nullify – to cancel legally.