Unit 4 Government Illustrated Glossary allegiance loyalty and

Unit 4: Government Illustrated Glossary

allegiance loyalty and obedience owed to one's country or government

amendment a major change or addition in a constitution or a law

appointed Sonia Sotomayor was appointed as a Supreme Court Justice selected for a position, office or duty

appointee a person selected for some office or position

assembly a law making body In New York State government, one of the two houses of the Legislative branch.

bill a proposed law that has not been voted upon

budget a government plan for spending the money that is received from citizens during a certain period

branches of government parts of government The United States has three branches of government: Executive, Judicial and Legislative.

cabinet a group of advisors to the President

confederation a union of states or nations with limited central power

Citizen a person who is a member of a state or nation

compromise to settle a disagreement where each side gives up part of its demands

Congress the lawmaking or legislative branch of our federal government

Constitution a plan of government

constitutional a law, which follows or is line with the Constitution

Constitutional Convention a meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 at which 55 delegates wrote a plan of government called the Constitution

convention a large, official meeting of people

debate to discuss or argue for or against, in a formal way

debt what a person owes to another

justice fairness

Declaration of Independence a document that states the reasons the 13 American colonies wanted to be free of Great Britain’s government

defense something that guards or protects

delegate a person who represents others at a convention

democracy a form of government in which the citizens vote for the laws. In the United States we have a representative democracy; we elect representatives to vote for the laws for us.

document a written or printed paper that gives information or serves as evidence of something

domestic having to do with the events inside the United States

elected chosen for office by a vote

Electors The number of chosen people from each state who actually vote to elect the President of the United States. They are called members of the “Electoral College. ”

Electoral College the group of people who actually choose the President

enforce make sure that something is obeyed

establish to set up

Executive the branch of government that carries out the laws

federal The White House: symbol of United States national government New York State Capital Building: symbol of NYS government a type of government where some of the power is at the national level and some of the power is at the state level

foreign policy a plan or method of action or conduct for dealing with other countries

government a group of people who make laws and see that they are carried out

House of Representatives the part of Congress in which the number of representatives is determined by a state's population

immigrants people who come to another country with the purpose of making a home there

Judicial the branch of government that interprets the law

justice fairness

law a rule made and carried out by government

Legislature one of the three branches of government that makes laws

liberty freedom from control by others

monarchy a government ruled by a king or queen

New York State Senate one of the two houses that make up the legislative branch in New York

oath a formal promise

ordain to order

override to pass a law in spite of the President’s veto

persistence the act of continuing with determination

petition a formal written request to a group in authority

posterity left for all the people in the future

power legal authority

Preamble the opening of the Constitution that states its purpose

representative a person who is chosen or elected to speak for others

Senate the House of Congress in which each state has two members regardless of its population

sovereign freedom from outside control

state one of the 50 parts of the United States that has some powers of its own

tranquility calm, peaceful

union the act of joining together

verdict a decision made by a jury at the end of a trial

veto a decision of an elected official not to sign into law a bill that was passed by a legislature

welfare for the good of the people