CHAPTER 3: LESSON 4

Vocabulary

CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY

A kind of democracy in which the goals of the government and the ways it will work to achieve them are stated in the constitution.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

A governing system in which citizens elect people to make laws and decisions for them.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The central authority in a federation (group) of states.

CABINET

The group of department heads (people) who advise a nations chief executive.

The Federal Government

It is divided into three branches – the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

The President and Vice-President make up the executive branch.

Congress makes up the legislative branch. The U.S. Supreme Court and the federal court

system make up the judicial branch. To balance authority among the three

branches, a system of checks and balances lets each branch of government have some control over the other branches.

POLITICAL PARTY

A group of people involved in government who try to get others to agree with their ideas and who choose leaders who share the groups point of view.

COMMON GOOD

Helpful for all citizens as a group.

Civic Responsibilities of the People of the U.S.

People must obey the law. People must pay taxes. People should vote. People should volunteer in the community.

MARKET PRICE

What people are willing to pay for a product or service.

Market Economy in the U.S.

People decide which goods and services they buy.

They decide how their money is spent. They decide what kind of job they will do. Businesses are free to create goods and

services of their choice. Businesses decide how much they will charge

for their goods and services.

DEFICIT

A shortage.