Civics and Elections Flashcards
Grade 5 · Social Studies · Flashcards
Essential terms for understanding U.S. government structure, citizen rights, and the electoral process.
Flashcards
- Democracy
- A system of government in which the people hold power, either directly or through elected representatives.
- Constitution
- The supreme law of the United States, ratified in 1788, which establishes the structure of government and protects citizens' rights.
- Legislative Branch
- The branch of government that makes laws; in the U.S., this is Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
- Executive Branch
- The branch of government that enforces laws; headed by the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet.
- Judicial Branch
- The branch of government that interprets laws and determines if they are constitutional; led by the Supreme Court.
- Checks and Balances
- The constitutional system ensuring each branch of government can limit the power of the others.
- Bill of Rights
- The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution (ratified 1791) protecting individual freedoms like speech, religion, and fair trials.
- Amendment
- A change or addition to the U.S. Constitution; there are currently 27 amendments.
- Veto
- The power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law (Congress can override with a two-thirds vote).
- Suffrage
- The right to vote in public elections; all U.S. citizens age 18 and older have this right.
- Electoral College
- The system used to elect the U.S. President, where each state has a number of electors equal to its total congressional representatives.
- Political Party
- An organized group of people who share similar political views and work together to elect candidates and influence government policy.
- Civic Responsibility
- The duties expected of citizens, including obeying laws, paying taxes, serving on juries, and participating in elections.
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