| Term | Definition |
|---|
| federalism | the idea of a federal organization of more or less self-governing units |
| separation of powers | the divsion of the national government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
| dual sovereignty | the idea that the federal government and the states each had exclusive power over their own spheres |
| constatutionalism | preserves rights |
| individual rights | are protected by the Bill of Rights. |
| taxation | the imposition of taxes |
| welfare | governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need |
| legislative branch | the branch of government that makes the laws |
| executive branch | the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws |
| judicial branch | branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly |
| checks and balances | A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power |
| Constitution | document that sets out the laws and principles of a government |
| Senate | assembly possessing high legislative powers |
| commerce | the United States federal department that promotes and administers domestic and foreign trade (including management of the census and the patent office) |
| Article V | provides a way to change the constitution when necessary to reflect the will of people |
| Amendments | Changes to the Constitution |
| Bill of rights | the first 10 amendments of the constitution |
| majority rule | the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group |
| freedom of press | The right to publish newspapers, magazines, and books found in the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution |
| freedom of speech | the right to express oneself, with words or actions (verbally or symbolically). This freedom is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution |
| freedom of assembly | the right to peaceably assemble |
| right to petition | to petition the government for redress of grievances |
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