appellate court - a higher court that is responsible for reviewing cases and hearing appeals that have been previously decided in
the lower courts; the appellate court usually determines whether legal errors were made, and if there were, whether the errors
impacted the court's final decision
autonomy - the right of a region or cultural area to government itself
bicameral - a legislature with two houses Note- The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature composed of the U.S. Senate and the
U.S. House of Representatives
Bill of Rights - the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1791)
cabinet - government officials who lead executive agencies and advise the President about issues related to their office
(Example- The Secretary of Defense advises the President on military related issues.)
civil cases - court cases that involve disputes between two or more parties
consent decree - an order that is issued by a judge that is based on an agreement between two parties in a lawsuit Note- Parties involved in a
consent decree usually negotiate the terms of a consent decree to avoid costly legal fees and litigation
civil liberties - individual freedoms such as freedom of speech and expression
coalition - a group of political parties with similar goals (important in a parliamentary system)
constituent - a citizen within a geographical area who is entitled to vote for government candidates
constitution - a written document that outlines the basic laws and principles that are used to govern a country
coup - the overthrow of the national government by use of military force
democracy - a political system in which a country’s people elects their leaders and rule by majority
executive order - a directive by the President of the United States that allows for the management of the government and is
enforced like a law Example- Executive Order 10834 The Flag of the United States - This executive order was made on August 21,
1959 on the day that Hawaii was admitted as a state. Executive Order 10834 specified the new design of the flag and revoked
Executive Order 10798.
Federal government - a government that is characterized by a central government that shares power with state government (Example
filibuster - a term that describes the actions taken in the United States Senate to delay or block legislation by continuing to speak
for an extended period
freedom of speech - the legal right to express a view without fear of punishment
governor - the elected head of government at the state level
joint session of Congress - a gathering of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for special
occasions such as the President's State of the Union Address or to count electoral votes after an election Note- Joint sessions are
held in the House of Representatives and the Speaker of the House usually presides over the sessions. The only exception to this
occurs when electoral votes are being counted and the President of the Senate presides over the count.
jury - a group of citizens chosen to participate in a trial and decide whether a defendant is innocent or guilty
martial law - the temporary suspension of civilian law that results in military control of all government functions
mayor - the elected head of government at the city level
monarchy - a government ruled by a king or queen
nationalism - strong feelings of loyalty and support by a citizen of a country
parliamentary government - a system of government in which the executive power (the prime minister and cabinet) is made-up
of members of the legislature
politician - a person who is voted into a government position
posterity - future generations
preamble - an introduction to a constitution or law
president - the chief executive at the national level
quorum - the number of senators that must be present in the Senate to conduct business
republic - a democratic form of government in which the citizens elect representatives to act on their behalf under a constitution
restricted suffrage - voting rights that are granted to citizens but are limed by a person's gender, employment status, whether the person
is in the military or police, or if they have met residency requirements
suffrage - the right to vote
universal suffrage - voting rights that are granted to all citizens once they reach a certain age
veto - Presidential rejection of a bill passed by Congress
the lower courts; the appellate court usually determines whether legal errors were made, and if there were, whether the errors
impacted the court's final decision
autonomy - the right of a region or cultural area to government itself
bicameral - a legislature with two houses Note- The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature composed of the U.S. Senate and the
U.S. House of Representatives
Bill of Rights - the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1791)
cabinet - government officials who lead executive agencies and advise the President about issues related to their office
(Example- The Secretary of Defense advises the President on military related issues.)
civil cases - court cases that involve disputes between two or more parties
consent decree - an order that is issued by a judge that is based on an agreement between two parties in a lawsuit Note- Parties involved in a
consent decree usually negotiate the terms of a consent decree to avoid costly legal fees and litigation
civil liberties - individual freedoms such as freedom of speech and expression
coalition - a group of political parties with similar goals (important in a parliamentary system)
constituent - a citizen within a geographical area who is entitled to vote for government candidates
constitution - a written document that outlines the basic laws and principles that are used to govern a country
coup - the overthrow of the national government by use of military force
democracy - a political system in which a country’s people elects their leaders and rule by majority
executive order - a directive by the President of the United States that allows for the management of the government and is
enforced like a law Example- Executive Order 10834 The Flag of the United States - This executive order was made on August 21,
1959 on the day that Hawaii was admitted as a state. Executive Order 10834 specified the new design of the flag and revoked
Executive Order 10798.
Federal government - a government that is characterized by a central government that shares power with state government (Example
filibuster - a term that describes the actions taken in the United States Senate to delay or block legislation by continuing to speak
for an extended period
freedom of speech - the legal right to express a view without fear of punishment
governor - the elected head of government at the state level
joint session of Congress - a gathering of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for special
occasions such as the President's State of the Union Address or to count electoral votes after an election Note- Joint sessions are
held in the House of Representatives and the Speaker of the House usually presides over the sessions. The only exception to this
occurs when electoral votes are being counted and the President of the Senate presides over the count.
jury - a group of citizens chosen to participate in a trial and decide whether a defendant is innocent or guilty
martial law - the temporary suspension of civilian law that results in military control of all government functions
mayor - the elected head of government at the city level
monarchy - a government ruled by a king or queen
nationalism - strong feelings of loyalty and support by a citizen of a country
parliamentary government - a system of government in which the executive power (the prime minister and cabinet) is made-up
of members of the legislature
politician - a person who is voted into a government position
posterity - future generations
preamble - an introduction to a constitution or law
president - the chief executive at the national level
quorum - the number of senators that must be present in the Senate to conduct business
republic - a democratic form of government in which the citizens elect representatives to act on their behalf under a constitution
restricted suffrage - voting rights that are granted to citizens but are limed by a person's gender, employment status, whether the person
is in the military or police, or if they have met residency requirements
suffrage - the right to vote
universal suffrage - voting rights that are granted to all citizens once they reach a certain age
veto - Presidential rejection of a bill passed by Congress
