Unit 3 Guide
The Federal Government
The government of the United States of America is the federal government of the
republic of fifty states that constitute the United States, as well as one capital district, and
several other territories. The federal government is composed of three distinct branches:
legislative, executive and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution in the
Congress, the President, and the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, respectively. The
powers and duties of these branches are further defined by acts of Congress, including the
creation of executive departments and courts inferior to the Supreme Court.
The full name of the republic is the "United States of America". No other name appears
in the Constitution, and this is the name that appears on money, in treaties, and in legal cases
to which it is a party (e.g., Charles T. Schenck v. United States). The terms "Government of the
United States of America" or "United States Government" are often used in official documents
to represent the federal government as distinct from the states collectively. In casual
conversation or writing, the term "Federal Government" is often used, and the term "National
Government" is sometimes used. The terms "Federal" and "National" in government agency or
program names generally indicate affiliation with the federal government (e.g., Federal Bureau
of Investigation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, etc.). Because the seat of
government is in Washington, D.C., "Washington" is commonly used as a metonym for the
federal government.
Vocabulary
Legislative Branch
1. Bicameral
2. Census
3. Constituent
4. Gerrymander
5. Majority Party
6. Minority Party
7. Standing Committee
8. Seniority
9. Impeach
10. Writ of habeas corpus
11. Bill of attainder
12. Ex post facto law
13. Franking privilege
14. Lobbyist
15. Casework
16. Pork-Barrel Project
17. Joint resolution
18. Special-interest group
19. Filibuster
20. Cloture
21. Voice vote
22. Standing vote
23. Roll-Call vote
24. Veto
25. Pocket Veto
Executive Branch
1. Electoral College
2. Elector
3. Executive order
4. Pardon
5. Reprieve
6. Amnesty
7. Cabinet
8. Federal Bureaucracy
9. Independent Agency
10. Government Corporation
11. Political appointee
12. Civil service worker
13. Civil service system
14. Spoils system
15. Merit system
Judicial Branch
1. Circuit
2. Jurisdiction
3. Exclusive Jurisdiction
4. Concurrent Jurisdiction
5. District court
6. Original jurisdiction
7. Appeals court
8. Appellate jurisdiction
9. Remand
10. Opinion
11. Precedent
12. Judicial Review
13. Constitutional
14. Docket
15. Brief
16. Majority opinion
17. Unanimous opinion
18. Concurring opinion
19. Dissenting opinion
20. Stare decisis