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Legislative branch	Congress; makes the laws		us-three-branches-of-government
Executive branch	The president and agencies; carry out the laws		us-three-branches-of-government
Judicial branch	The courts; interpret the laws		us-three-branches-of-government
Congress	The Senate and the House of Representatives together		us-three-branches-of-government
Senate	Part of Congress with 100 members, two from each state		us-three-branches-of-government
House of Representatives	Part of Congress with 435 voting members, based on state population		us-three-branches-of-government
Senator's term	Six years		us-three-branches-of-government
Representative's term	Two years		us-three-branches-of-government
President's term	Four years		us-three-branches-of-government
Vice president	Takes over if the president cannot serve and presides over the Senate		us-three-branches-of-government
Cabinet	Advisers who lead major departments		us-three-branches-of-government
Federal agency	Part of the executive branch that does a specific job, like the FDA or NASA		us-three-branches-of-government
Supreme Court	The nation's highest court, with nine justices		us-three-branches-of-government
Federal judge	Judge appointed by the president and approved by the Senate; serves for life		us-three-branches-of-government
Justice	A member of the Supreme Court		us-three-branches-of-government
Chief Justice	The leader of the Supreme Court		us-three-branches-of-government
Bill	A proposed law		us-three-branches-of-government
Law	A rule made by government		us-three-branches-of-government
Veto	President says no to a bill		us-three-branches-of-government
Override	Congress passes a bill again over a veto with a two-thirds vote		us-three-branches-of-government
Separation of powers	Splitting government power among three branches		us-three-branches-of-government
Checks and balances	Each branch has ways to limit the others		us-three-branches-of-government
Congress checks the president	By passing laws, controlling funds and impeaching officials		us-three-branches-of-government
President checks Congress	By vetoing bills		us-three-branches-of-government
Courts check Congress and the president	By ruling that laws or actions are unconstitutional		us-three-branches-of-government
Senate checks the president	By confirming nominees and approving treaties		us-three-branches-of-government
President checks the courts	By nominating judges		us-three-branches-of-government
Congress checks the courts	By approving judges, creating lower courts and proposing amendments		us-three-branches-of-government
Impeach	To charge an official with serious wrongdoing		us-three-branches-of-government
Confirm	To approve a nominee, which the Senate does		us-three-branches-of-government
Nominate	To propose someone for a job		us-three-branches-of-government
Treaty	Agreement with another nation, made by the president with Senate approval		us-three-branches-of-government
Commander in chief	The president as head of the military		us-three-branches-of-government
Declare war	Power given to Congress		us-three-branches-of-government
Pass a budget	Congress decides how federal money is spent		us-three-branches-of-government
Regulate trade	Congress can set rules for trade between states and with other countries		us-three-branches-of-government
Interpret laws	Courts decide what laws mean		us-three-branches-of-government
Judicial review	Courts can decide a law goes against the Constitution		us-three-branches-of-government
Appeals court	Court that reviews decisions of lower courts		us-three-branches-of-government
District court	Federal trial court		us-three-branches-of-government
Executive order	Directive from the president to run the executive branch		us-three-branches-of-government
Pardon	President's power to forgive a federal crime		us-three-branches-of-government
Speaker of the House	Leader of the House of Representatives		us-three-branches-of-government
Majority leader	Senate or House leader of the largest party		us-three-branches-of-government
Committee	Small group of members who study bills in detail		us-three-branches-of-government
Filibuster	Using long speeches to delay a vote in the Senate		us-three-branches-of-government
Quorum	Minimum number of members needed to do business		us-three-branches-of-government
Term limit	Limit on how long someone may hold an office		us-three-branches-of-government
Constituent	A person represented by an elected official		us-three-branches-of-government
Lobbyist	Person who tries to influence lawmakers on behalf of a group		us-three-branches-of-government
Federal budget	Plan for how the national government will spend and raise money		us-three-branches-of-government
Capitol	Building in Washington, DC where Congress meets		us-three-branches-of-government
White House	Residence and office of the president		us-three-branches-of-government
Supreme Court building	In Washington, DC, with the words 'Equal Justice Under Law'		us-three-branches-of-government
Marbury v. Madison	1803 case that established judicial review		us-three-branches-of-government
Number of justices	Nine; the number is set by Congress		us-three-branches-of-government
Why three branches?	So no single group has too much power		us-three-branches-of-government
Executive departments	Fifteen major departments such as State, Treasury, Defense and Education		us-three-branches-of-government
Secretary of State	Cabinet member who handles foreign relations		us-three-branches-of-government
Attorney General	Head of the Justice Department		us-three-branches-of-government
Independent agency	Federal agency not part of a cabinet department		us-three-branches-of-government