law

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a rule made by a country, state, or city that all people must follow

government

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the group of people in charge of ruling or managing a country, state, city, or other place

The Constitution

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the main law of the United States that is the foundation of all other laws

Mayflower Compact

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an agreement signed by the men who were aboard the Mayflower that gave them the right to govern themselves; by signing it, they promised to abide by the laws

Declaration of Independence

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an official statement sent to the King of England in 1776 that explained why the colonists had the right to govern themselves and break away from England

Articles of Confederation

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a document approved by Congress in 1777 that was the first plan of government in the United States and gave the states most of the power

Bill of Rights

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ten ammendments that were added to The Constitution in 1791 to protect the rights of the people

town meetings

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an assembly of people in a New England town that made laws and elected leaders

judicial branch

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the part of the government that must decide if laws are fair; includes the system of courts, including the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land

legislative branch

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the part of the government that makes the laws; includes the House of Representatives and the Senate

executive branch

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the part of the government that has the power to enforce the laws; includes the President

checks and balances

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the system that keeps any one branch of government from becoming too powerful; each branch has ways to check or block the powers of others

character traits

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the qualities that make a person who they are

democracy

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a government that is run by the people who live under it

monarchy

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a government that is ruled by a king or a queen

Federalists

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citizens who were in favor of obeying the Constitution

ratify

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to approve something

bill

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an idea for a new law

compromise

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to give up something you want in order to reach an agreement

political party

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a group that tries to elect officials who will support its policies

veto

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to reject

impeach

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to accuse a government official of a crime

tariff

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a tax on imports

treaty

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an agreement between countries about peace, trade, or other matters

republic

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a form of government in which people elect representatives to run the government

liberty

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the freedom from government control

public policy

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the action taken by the government to address public issues

cross-cultural conflict

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problems arising between different groups over religion, government, economics, culture, etc.