US Government Vitamins

2/4/26 GOV Vitamin #14

Legislative Branch – The branch of government responsible for making laws through the Senate and the House of Representatives

Executive Branch – The branch of government responsible for executing (enforcing) the law through the White House and federal agencies

Judicial Branch – The branch of government responsible for settling legal disputes and interpreting the law through the courts

2/3/26 GOV Vitamin #13

Federalism – The separation and sharing of power between a national government and lower state and local governments

Dual Federalism – A system with clearly defined powers for national and state governments that do not overlap (no sharing)

Cooperative Federalism – A system in which national and state governments cooperate and share some governmental powers

2/2/26 GOV Vitamin #12

1st Amendment – Protects freedoms surrounding speech and religion

2nd Amendment – Protects the right to bear arms (weapons)

4th Amendment – Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures of property

5th Amendment – Protects the right to due process (fairness) in the legal system

1/30/26 GOV Vitamin #11

Bill of Rights – The first ten amendments of the Constitution which are intended to protect the fundamental rights of American citizens

Amendment – An addition or alteration to the United States Constitution

Unconstitutional –  An action or law that is not allowed by the Constitution

1/29/26 GOV Vitamin #10

The Constitution – The written document that established and guides the government of the United States

Constitutional Convention – A meeting of important political figures in 1787 to negotiate and create the Constitution of the United States

James Madison – 4th U.S. President, Founding Father, and primary author of the Constitution

1/21/26 GOV Vitamin #9

Federalism – Power is shared between federal and state levels of government

Republicanism – The population chooses individuals to represent them in government

Individual Rights – Fundamental rights to which every citizen is entitled, such as the rights in the Bill of Rights

1/20/26 GOV Vitamin #8

Popular Sovereignty – The "people"/population provide power to the government

Limited Government – Government institutions are restricted in their authority and actions

Separations of Powers – Power and authority are spread among different people and institutions in government

Checks and Balances – Separated powers within the government have the power to challenge or "check" one another to maintain a balance of power

1/15/26 GOV Vitamin #7

Sovereignty – The authority of a state to govern itself

Confederation –  A political union of sovereign states united for taking common action

Federation – A group of states with a superior central government but independence in internal affairs

Federal Government – The central government of a state above the separate units making up a federation

1/14/26 GOV Vitamin #6

Constitution – A set of principles and precedents that determine how a government is operated

Magna Carta – The first written document with the principle that the king and his government are not above the law

Articles of Confederation – The first constitution of the United States which established a decentralized “league of friendship” between the 13 states

1/13/26 GOV Vitamin #5

What do you consider to be “the people”? Who were “the people” in 1776? Explain any difference between these two.

How does social contract theory and “the will of the people” continue to influence our politics today?

1/12/26 GOV Vitamin #4

Primary Source – Original documents and objects from a historical period

Secondary Source – A source which discusses information originally from other sources

Thomas Jefferson – 3rd US President, founding father, and author of the Declaration of Independence

Revolution – A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system

1/9/26 GOV Vitamin #3

Social Contract Theory – The consent of the governed is what gives a government the right to rule

Precedent – A court decision that is considered an authority for deciding future cases that are similar or identical

Common Law –A body of law created through precedent set by judges

Rule of Law – All citizens, institutions, and government officials are accountable to the same laws

1/8/26 GOV Vitamin #2

Democratic Republic – A form of government where citizens elect individuals to represent them in government

Election – A formal vote selecting an individual for political office

Civil Strife – Circumstances in which law enforcement struggles to maintain public order or tranquility

Civil War – A war between citizens of the same country

1/7/26 GOV Vitamin #1

Government – An institution which organizes and regulates a community through the law

Law – A system of rules recognized as legitimately regulating and punishing the actions of individuals

Politics – Activities associated with governance, usually aimed at gaining power within a government system