| A | B |
|---|
| two party | A system of government in which two parties compete for power |
| third | a party that challenges the two major parties. |
| platform | statements expressing the party's beliefs and positions on election issues |
| nomination | process by which political parties select and offer candidates for public office |
| mass media | T.V. radio, newspapers, magazines etc. |
| polling place | where voting takes place |
| apathy | a lack of interest |
| Electoral College | Named by the state legislature to select President and Vice-president |
| political action committee | a political organization established by a special interest group to support candidates by contributing money |
| ballot | list of candidates on which you cast your vote |
| candidate | a person running for public office |
| campaign | planned actions to get a candidate elected to office. |
| voting | what is done at a polling place |
| state legislature | The Electoral College is selected by this group |
| special interest groups | political action committees are formed by these |
| electorate | all of the people who are eligible to vote in an election |
| PAC | political action committee |
| principles and beliefs | a platform expresses these |
| money | special-interest groups support candedates by providing |
| government | the ruling authority for the community |
| loyalty | citizens owe this to the government |
| democracy | a government in which citizens hold the power to rule |
| civics | the study of the rights and duties of citizens |
| representative democracy | a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf. |
| dictatorship | a government controlled by one person or a small group of people |
| monarchy | system with a hereditary ruler such as a king or queen |
| citizens | community members who owe loyalty to the government |
| federalism | the form of government where power is divided between the federal government and the states |
| separation of powers | split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
| checks and balances | system where each branch of government is able to check(limit) the power of the others |
| legislative | the branch of government that makes the laws |
| executive | the branch of government that carries out, enforces, and executes laws |
| judicial branch | branch of government that interprets the law |
| popular sovereignty | power lies with the people |
| legislature | a group of people who make laws |
| constitution | a detailed, written plan of government |
| amendment | any change in the constitution |
| ratify | to vote approval of (vote yes) |
| expressed powers | powers that Congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution |
| reserved powers | powers that the Constitution does NOT give to the federal government but is kept by the states |
| Preamble | the opening section of the constitution |
| due process of law | procedures established by law and guaranteed by the constitution |
| rule of law | principal that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern |
| consent of the governed | American citizes are the wource of all governmental power (people power) |
| limited government | government is not all powerful and it may do only those things that people have given it the power to do |
| compromise | an agreement where each side agrees to give up something |
| supremacy clause | The constitution (and the federal government) is the supreme law of the land. |
| king or queen | a monarchy is headed by these |
| Congress | The legislative branch is represented by this body |
| President | The executive branch is represented by this |
| Courts | The Judicial branch is represented by this |
| People | in a popular sovereignty power rests with this group |
| Congress | this body has powers that are specifically listed in the constitutiony |
| states | reserved pwers are kept by the |
| concurrent powers | Powers shared by the state and federal government |
| implied powers | powers that congress has that are not stated explicity in the constitution |
| carries out | The executive branch ____________laws. |
| vote yes | to ratify means to |
| government | A constitution is a detailed, written plan of |
