CHAPTER 5 VOCABULARY
Constitution:
• a set of basic
principles and
laws that
states the
powers and
duties of the
government
Suffrage:
the
right to
vote
Ratification:
an
official
approval
Tariffs:
taxes on
imports
and
exports
Inflation:
Increases prices
for goods and
services combined
with the reduced
value of money.
Depression:
a steep drop in
economic activity
combined with
rising
unemployment
Checks and
balances:
a system of
established by
the Constitution
that prevents
any branch of
government
from becoming
too powerful
Amendments:
official change,
correction or
addition to a
law,
constitution or
a document
Federalism:
United States
system of
government in
which power is
distributed between
a central
government
(Congress) and
individual states
Legislative
branch:
the division of
the federal
government
that proposes
bills and
passes them
into laws
Executive
branch:
the division of
the federal
government
that includes
the president
and the
administrative
departments;
enforces our
nation’s laws
Judicial
branch:
the division of the
federal
government that is
made up of the
nation’s courts;
interprets the
laws, punishes
criminals, and
settles disputes
between states