Government Vocabulary

1. Texas Government Vocabulary Constitution, Government, Checks and Balances, Democracy, Federalism, Separation of Powers, Bill of Rights, Amendment

2. Constitution/constitucion – A document that outlines fundamental laws and principles of law; the nature and functions, and limits of government. Documento que compendia leyes y principios fundamentales de la ley

3. Government – The continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political union. President George Bush U.S. Capitol

4. Checks and Balances – A system whereby each branch of government has the ability to limit the actions of the other branches. Controles y balances – sistema en que cada rama de gobierno tiene la capacidad de limitar las acciones de las otras ramas.

5. Democracy – government by the people; especially; rule of the majority

6. Federalism – A type of government in which powers and duties between the states and the national government are shared. Federalismo – tipo de gobierno en que los poderes y deberes son compartidos por los estados y el gobierno central.

7. Separation of Powers – the term for the fact that the powers of government are divided into three separate branches: legislative, executive & judicial. Separacion de poderes – el mandato para el hecho de que los poderes del gobierno esten divididos en tres ramas separadas; legislativo, ejecutivo y judicial

8. Bill of Rights – a series of laws in a constitution that protect specific rights of citizens. Declaracion de derechos – una serie de layes en una constitucion que protégé derechos especificos de los ciudadanos.

9. Amendment – an addition to a formal document such as a constitution. Enmienda – adicion a un dacumento formal como por ejemplo un acta organica.