U.S. Civics Vocabulary

Changes in, or additions to, the Constitution. Proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Ratified by approval of three-fourths of the states.

A

The absence of formal legal order.

A

The right to control or direct the actions of others, legitimized by law, morality, custom, or consent.

A

Constitutional mechanisms that authorize each branch of government to share powers with the other branches and thereby check their activities.

C

The status of being a member of a state, and therefore one who owes allegiance to the government and who is entitled to its protection and to political rights.

C

The body of law that deals with the private rights of individuals, as distinguished from criminal law.

C

Areas of personal freedom with which governments are constrained from interfering.

C

Protections and privileges given to all U.S. citizens by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

C

A body of unwritten law developed in England from judicial decisions based on custom and earlier judicial decisions. It constituted the basis of the English legal system and became part of American law.

C

Powers that may be exercised by both the federal government and the state governments, e.g., levying taxes, borrowing money, and spending for the general welfare.

C

Powers granted to the national government under the Constitution, as enumerated in Articles I, II, and III.

D

The right of every citizen to be protected against arbitrary action by government.

D

Powers that are specifically granted to Congress by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

E

The idea that no individual or group may receive special privileges from nor be unjustly discriminated against by the law.

E

The power of the President to implement and enforce laws.

E

A form of political organization in which governmental power is divided between a central government and territorial subdivisions.

F

Customs, treaties, agreements, and rules that govern relations among nations.

I

The power to manage conflicts about the interpretation and application of the law.

J

The power to make laws.

L

Rule by more than half of those participating in a decision.

M

A form of government in which power is held by the people and exercised indirectly through elected representatives who make decisions.

R

The principle that every member of a society, even a ruler, must follow the law.

R

The concept that religion and government should be independent of one another; and, the basis for the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

S

The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making.

S

The right to vote.

S