Our Government

• Regressive Tax - a tax structure in which the higher share of the tax burden is placed on poorer individuals and less on wealthier individuals
• Checks and Balances: Each branch has the power to limit the power of the other two branches

  
• Minority Leader - The leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives
• Property Tax - a tax on the value of a home or land that is paid to local governments by the owner of the real estate
• Electors - members of the national electoral college who actually vote for the president
• Jim Crow Laws - Laws written after Reconstruction that enforced segregation in the South. Restricted the civil rights of black citizens, such as voting and educational equalities.

  
• U.S. Constitution - Document which lays the foundation for the US government and provides a blueprint of democracy for the rest of the world
• Supreme Court - The highest court in the land, established by the Constitution. Justices to the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate, and serve for life or until retirement.
• Bicameral - The split of the legislative branch into two houses, each with a different set-up and focus
• Constitution: Article 7 - The Ratification Process
• Brown v. Board of Education - 1954: The Supreme Court ruled in this case that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional; this overturned the finding in Plessy v. Ferguson

  
• Super PACs - A result of the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court case that ruled political contribution restrictions were an unconstitutional act against the freedom of speech, resulting in unlimited donations and unprecedented spending in political campaigns
• 10th Amendment - The last amendment in the Bill of Rights, the 10th Amendment limits the power of the federal government and protects the rights of the states and the people by reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or to the people.
• Constitution: Article 3 - The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Judicial Branch
• Federalism - The system of shared power between the national government and the state and local governments
• Bill of Rights - The first ten amendments to the Constitution which protected legal rights and civil rights of individuals. Created in 1791.

  
• Declaration of Independence - Document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Signed by representatives from all 13 colonies. The document outlined the complaints the colonists had about Great Britain and officially declared the US free from British rule.
• Senate - One house of Congress with equal representation for all states
• Implied Powers - Powers not explicitly written in the Constitution that are allowed under the elastic clause
• Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Passed in an attempt to eliminated legal barriers to voting.
• House of Burgesses - The first elected legislative body which became a model for other colonies governmental systems. Met in Jamestown, Virginia.
• Progressive Tax - a tax structure in which income brackets are used to determine the tax rate; as an individual's income increases, their tax rate progresses from bracket to bracket
• Income Tax - a tax on an individual's pay
• Freedmen - formerly enslaved African Americans who were emancipated during and after the Civil War, particularly following the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the 13th Amendment in 1865
• Flat Tax - a tax structure in which consumers pay a fixed percentage of the value of the item being taxed
• Plessy v. Ferguson - 1896: The Supreme Court ruled in this case that racial segregation for public facilities was constitutional, as long as they were "separate but equal."

  
• Preamble - an introductory statement in a document that explains the document's purpose and underlying philosophy
• House of Representatives - One house of Congress with proportional representation
• Political Action Committees (PACs) - Committees that raise money to support specific candidates for political office who will presumably support their agendas
• Sale Tax - a tax on the purchase price of a good; usually levied by state and local agencies
• Speaker of The House - The leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives, selected by the majority party members
• Proportional Tax - a tax structure in which the rate is fixed and the amount of tax paid is proportional to the income of the individual being taxed
• Veto - Ability of the president to reject laws passed by Congress. Congress can overturn a veto with a 2/3 vote.
• The Media -Not an official part of the political system, but plays an important role in the political process. Reports on political events, legislation, and conducts investigations into government activities and government officials.
• Constitution: Article 1 - The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Legislative Branch
• Constitutional Convention - A meeting of at least two-thirds of the states to approve an amendment to the Constitution which still requires three-fourths of the states to ratify the amendment
• Constitution: Article 2 - The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Executive Branch
• Articles of Confederation - The first written constitution in the colonies, ratified in 1781.
• Commerce Clause - A key clause of the Constitution. Regulates interstate commerce. This power has been used to justify the expansion of the legislature over nationwide issues, since they could impact interstate commerce.
• President Pro Tempore - The most senior member of the majority party who leads the Senate when the Vice President is absent