a form of autocracy where a person becomes the sole leader of a country by being born into a family of rulers

a form of government where one person has unlimited power

a form of government in which a single ruling party owns and controls all production and distribution of goods, and in which no private ownership is allowed

a system of government in which political power resides with the people

a form of autocracy where a military leader becomes the leader of a country often through violent means

a form of government in which the power to govern lies directly in the hands of the people rather than through elected representatives

the way a government is structured

a form of government headed by a king or queen who inherits the position, rules for life, and holds power that can range anywhere between limited to absolute

a form of government in which a small group has total control and power

a system of government in which the people elect representatives to make policies and laws for them, also known as a republic

a system of government in which the people elect representatives to make policies and laws for them, also known as a representative democracy

an economic system in which the government owns the primary means of production

a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government

a system of government where power is shared between a central government and states

a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people

the head of a state government

a system of government where power lies with the legislative body and the leader of the country is part of the legislature

the head of state, or leader, in a federal system

the head of state in a parliamentary system

a system of government where almost all power is located with the central government

the power to hear appeals of cases which have been tried in lower courts

the nation's military (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard and Navy)

a numbered chapter or section of a contract, treaty, or constitution

the power of the legislative branch to print money (coins and bills) for use

powers shared by the national, state, and/or local government

the power of Congress to vote to go to war with another country

the powers specifically named and assigned to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution, also known as enumerated powers

the power of Congress to pass all laws they deem necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers (also known as implied powers)

the powers specifically named and assigned to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution, also known as delegated powers

the branch of government that enforces the laws made by the legislative branch

the power of the executive branch to decide on the United States' dealings with other countries in order to achieve national goals

the movement of people from one country to another country

to bring formal charges of wrongdoing against a public official (such as the U.S. President)

powers not written in the U.S. Constitution but are necessary and proper in order for the federal government to carry out the expressed powers; Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 gives Congress the power to do what it deems "necessary and proper" to carry out the delegated powers

the branch of government that interprets the laws made by the legislative branch

the branch of government that creates laws

laws made by Congress that people from other countries must follow in order to become legal citizens of the United States

the power of Congress to make laws that they need to carry out their enumerated powers

the power of a court to be the first to hear a case on a specific topic; for the U.S. Supreme Court this involves cases involving conflicts between Congress and the president and in cases in which a state is a party

the power of the U.S. President to choose members of his or her cabinet, ambassadors to other nations, and other officials in his or her administration

regulate to control, govern, or direct according to rule

to buy and sell goods or services

the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house

the lower house of the U.S. Congress

the upper house of the U.S. Congress

the highest court of the United States; it sits at the top of the federal court system

the powers specifically named and assigned to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution, also known as delegated powers

the organization through which political authority is exercised at the national level, government of the United States

a system of government in which power is divided and shared between national, state, and local government

the governing body of a municipality or county

powers that are not granted to the federal government that belong to (are reserved to) the states and the people, see Tenth Amendment

the organization through which political authority is exercised at the state level, government of a specific state

the clause that states that the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and that national laws are supreme over state laws, found in Article VI

the final amendment in the Bill of Rights, it states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

a change to the U.S. Constitution

a meeting to select a candidate or promote a policy

to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction

to officially cancel or overturn

to make a suggestion

not in agreement with the U.S Constitution

legislation which has passed both houses of Congress in identical form, been signed into law by the president, or passed over his veto, therefore becoming law

job or duty that is given to a person

the process of the Senate approving the president's choices for certain positions within the government

having two chambers (e.g. the two houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives)

an idea being suggested to become a law

persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers

the head justice, the Chief Justice is "first among equals"

a member of the governing body of a city

how representatives and senators are chosen for their assigned committees

a temporary panel composed of House and Senate members, which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve differences on major and controversial legislation.

people public officials are elected to represent

a member of the governing body of a county

a formal statement from a court that orders someone to do or stop doing something

an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law

self-government by citizens at the local level

the process of how a proposed law ("bill") moves through Congress and the president in order to become a law

a formal decision given by a court

the power of the U.S. courts to examine the laws or actions of the legislative and executive branches of the government and to determine whether such actions are consistent with the U.S. Constitution

the right and power for courts to interpret and apply the law

a rule established by government or other source of authority to regulate people's conduct or activities

a position where a Member of Congress is elected by the majority party to serve as the chief spokesperson for that party and to manage and schedule the business of either house

the political party with the most elected members

the Senate may agree to any question by a majority of senators voting, if a quorum is present.

the head of government for a city, town or other municipality

a position where a member of Congress is elected by the minority party to serve as the chief spokesperson for the party and to support the majority party in managing and scheduling the business of either house

the political party second in number of elected members to the majority party

to suggest a person for a position or office

a law enacted by a city or county affecting local affairs such as traffic, noise, and animal control

the formal act of forgiving someone or excusing a mistake

the person who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is not present

the power of the president to nominate persons to fill positions in the federal government

the group of persons elected to manage local public schools

an office identified in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution; the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, usually the highest ranking member of the majority party

a permanent committee established under the standing rules of both houses of Congress that focuses specific subject areas (e.g. Special Committee on Aging)

people who are concerned with some particular issue or part of the government and who try to influence legislators to act in their favor

permanent committee that focuses on specific subject areas (e.g. Education and the Workforce Committee)

a member of the Florida House of Representatives (state representative) or Florida Senate (state senator)

a member of a state legislature (i.e. the Florida House of Representatives)

a member of a state legislature (i.e. the Florida Senate)

a law enacted at the state level

a judgment decided by a trial court without that case going to trial; a summary judgment is an attempt to stop a case from going to trial

a member of the U.S House of Representatives; representatives are elected in districts throughout each state

a member of the U.S. Senate elected to represent an entire state, there are two senators per state

a decision by an executive authority such as a president or governor to reject a proposed law or statue

the procedure to see if the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case; a writ of certiorari is issues when a higher level court agrees to hear an appeal of an inferior court's decision

a group of House or Senate members gathered for a specific purpose, typically to discuss proposed legislation on specific topics

a member of the U.S. Congress, typically used to address members of the U.S. House of Representatives

courts that decide arguments over how to interpret the Constitution, all laws passed by Congress, arguments involving states, and in agreements with other nations., the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is at the top of the federal courts

the lower house of a state legislature (i.e., Florida House of Representatives)

the upper house of a state legislature (i.e., Florida Senate)

courts that deal with issues of law relating to those matters that the U.S. Constitution did not give to the federal government and are outlined in a state's constitution

a request, made after a trial, asking a higher court to decide whether that trial was conducted properly

court official who keeps order in the court, calls witnesses, is in charge of and makes sure no one tries to influence the jury

a matter that goes before a judge or court of law

a court for a defined region of a state (usually including several counties) that has specific divisions and hears cases within those divisions (e.g., family court, criminal court)

a case involving the rights of citizens

a court that hears both civil and criminal cases in one specific county

a place where justice is administered

court officer responsible for giving the oath to jurors and witnesses, is also responsible for court paperwork and physical evidence

court officer who records, word for word, everything that is said as part of the trial

a case involving someone who is accused of committing an illegal activity

the follow-up questioning of a witness by the side that did not call the witness to the stand

the person who answers the legal action of a plaintiff/prosecutor

the first questioning of a witness by the side that called the witness to the stand

an appellate court in the federal system

the courts that have general jurisdiction over matters not covered by the county courts

the courts where most non-jury trials occur; they are referred to as "the people's courts" because they handle minor disagreements between citizens and minor criminal offenses

the highest court in Florida

a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court

a member of a jury

a group of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

the title given to judges of the U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court

the person who brings legal action against another person

the courts where parties who are dissatisfied with the judgment of a U.S. District court may take their case

the courts where most federal cases begin, the U.S. District Courts are courts of original jurisdiction and hear civil and criminal cases

the local, state, or federal court that is the first to hear a civil or criminal case; involves a hearing and decision with a single judge, with or without a jury

a judgment

the process of questioning potential member of a jury for a trial

the power to direct the actions of people or to make decisions

the basic principles and laws of a nation or state that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it; usually a written document

the part of the Florida Constitution that lists the basic rights guaranteed to all citizens who live in the state

the introduction to a constitution; it states that the people establish the government, and it lists the purposes of the government

the powers specifically named and assigned to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution, also known as delegated powers

powers not listed in the U.S. Constitution but are necessary for the federal government to function