| A | B |
|---|
| Republicanism | The belief that citizens of a state have political authority, they are bound by a social contract to obey laws, and their rights are guaranteed by a constitution. |
| popular sovereignty | Governing authority that comes from the people. |
| separation of powers | The distribution of political power among the branches of government, giving each branch a particular set of responsibilities. |
| checks and balances | Limitations placed on a branch of government's political power by giving the other branches some control over its affairs. |
| Veto | The formal rejection of legislation by a chief executive. |
| Amendment | An addition to an already adopted constitution or an addition to a bill that is under consideration by a legislature. |
| Repeal | To reverse or cancel an existing law or regulation. |
| Bill of Rights | The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees certain individual liberties, including property rights, the right to trial by jury, and freedom of expression and religion. |
| judicial review | The power of a court to determine whether laws and other government actions are constitutional. |
| unconstitutional | A law or government action that violates provisions set forth in the U.S. Constitution. |
| executive agreement | An agreement between the president and the heads of other nations. |
| political party | A formal organization of people who seek to influence government actions and policies by electing its members to public office. |
| Cabinet | An advisory board that is made up of the heads of the government's executive departments and reports to the chief executive. |
| faction | A group of people seeking to advance their own concerns. |
