| A | B |
|---|
| search warrants | These are supported under the 4th Amendment and allows a police officer to search someone's house. |
| Supreme Court | The highest court in the land; either in Washington or your home state. |
| criminal case | A court case that involves such issues as murder, tax evasion, kidnapping, child abuse, etc.... |
| Preamble | The introduction to the United States Constitution. |
| checks and balances | This is the system in American government which makes sure that one of the three branches of government does not get more powerful than the other two. |
| Articles of the Confederation | This was America's first form of government; it supported the rights of each individual state to make their own laws. |
| special interest groups | These groups of people try to convince law makers to vote a for or against certain laws. They also help finance politicians elections. |
| civil cases | These are court cases where people verse people (suits). |
| legislative branch | The lawmaking branch of government |
| bicameral | This term is used to describe a legislature being split into two parts |
| Democrat and Republican | The two major political parties of the United States of America |
| judicial branch | This branch of government interprets the law. |
| executive branch | This branch of government enforces the laws. |
| veto | To refuse to vote for a bill |
| federal | This term means strong central government |
| United States Constitution | this is the outline of government in the US today; it supports a strong central government |
| amendment | How changes to the Constitution of the United States of America are made. |
| double jeopardy | Once a person is found not guilty of a crime they cannot be put on trial for the same crime again |
| Bill of Rights | First 10 amendments to the US Constitution |
| Electoral College | This instution elects the President of the Unites States |
| First Amendement | Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition. |
| Second Amendment | Right to bear arms (carry and own guns) |
| Third Amendement | Limits the quartering of soldiers in a persons home |
| Fourth Amendment | Limits search and seizure (taking of property). |
| Fifth Amendment | The right to due process of law, including protection against self-incrimination |
| Sixth Amendement | Right of those accused of a crime to be represented by a lawyer. |
| Seventh Amendment | Jury trial in a civil case |
| Eighth Amendment | unfair bail, fines, and punishment forbidden. |
| Nineth Amendment | Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution |
| Tenth Amendment | Powers reserved to the states of the people. |
| writs of assistance | This allows authorities to search one's home |
| grand jury | A jury designated to determine if a law has been violated and whether the evidence warrants prosecution |
| House of Representatives | The lower house of the legislative branch |
| Senate | The higher house of the legislative branch |
| unconstitutional | Anything against the constitution |
| executive ordinances | a regulation issued by a governor, president, or leader of a government. |
| comptroller | controller of the governement (like a treasurer) |
| impeach | To remove a political official from office |
| bill | What a law is called before it becomes a law. |
| popular vote | The total vote of the people of the United States |
| democracy | Government made, upheld, and protected by the people |
| republic | Government in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives choosen by the people of the country. |
| citizens | individuals from a a specific country. |
| Congress | National legislative branch of government |
