| A | B |
|---|
| Passport | a document that allows the US citizen to travel abroad |
| Veto | a refusal of the president or of the governor to sign a bill |
| Cabinet | the leaders of the executive departments who also act as advisors to the president |
| Regulatory Commissions | an independent agency created by congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators to court |
| Executive Department | a department in the executive branch of the federal government |
| Justice | a member of the supreme court |
| Treaty | a written agreement between nations |
| Joint Committee | a committee made up of members of both houses of congress to deal with matters of mutual concern |
| Lobbyist | a person paid to represent an interest groups view point |
| Standing Committee | a permanent house or senate committee that considers in a certain area |
| Ex post facto | a law that applies to an action that took place before the law was passed |
| Impeachment | a formal charge brought against a government official |
| Cloture | a limit on the debate of a bill in the senate |
| Delegate | a representative |
| Multiparty system | a poitical system in which many political parties play a role in government |
| Independent Voters | a voter who is not a member of a political party |
| Presidential Primary | a primary electio in which voters in the state select the presidential candidate they wish their delegates to support at the party's national nominating convention |
| Statutory Laws | law passed by congress and by lawmaking bodies by state or local governments |
| Constitutional law | law based on the constitution and supreme court decisions |
| District Courts | a lower federal court that has original jurisdiction in most cases involving federal laws |
| Commutations | making a convicted persons sentence less servere |
| Judicial Review | the power of the US supreme court to determine if a law passed by congress or presidential action is in accord with the constitution |
| Administrative Law | law made by government agencies |
| Regulatorry Commisions | independent agency created by congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators to court |
| State of the Union Address | a yearly report by the president to congress describing the nations conditions and recommending programs |
| Presidential Succession | the order in which the office of the president is to be if it becomes vacant |
| Secret Ballot | method of voting in which the voter marks a ballot in secret |
| Political Party | a group of citizens who have similar views on issues and who works to put their ideas into effect through government action |
| Two Party System | a political system with two strong political parties |
| Writ of Habeas Corpus | a court order requiring that an accused person be brought to court to determine if there is enough evedence to hold the person in trial |
| Quorum | to the minimum number of members who must be presented before a legislative body can conduct bussiness |
| Appropriation | a bill approved the spending of public money |
| Floor Leader | a politcical party leader in congress who works for the passage of bills the party favors |
