Texas Government Texas Government VocabularyVocabulary

Constitution, Government, Checks Constitution, Government, Checks and Balances, Democracy, and Balances, Democracy,

Federalism, Separation of Powers, Federalism, Separation of Powers, Bill of Rights, AmendmentBill of Rights, Amendment

Constitution/constitucionConstitution/constitucion – A document that – A document that outlines fundamental laws and principles of law; the outlines fundamental laws and principles of law; the nature and functions, and limits of government.nature and functions, and limits of government.Documento que compendia leyes y principios Documento que compendia leyes y principios fundamentales de la leyfundamentales de la ley

GovernmentGovernment – The continuous exercise of – The continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for authority over and the performance of functions for

a political union.a political union.

PresidentGeorge Bush

U.S. Capitol

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances – A system whereby each – A system whereby each branch of government has the ability to limit the branch of government has the ability to limit the actions of the other branches.actions of the other branches.

Controles y balances – sistema en que cada rama Controles y balances – sistema en que cada rama de gobierno tiene la capacidad de limitar las de gobierno tiene la capacidad de limitar las acciones de las otras ramas.acciones de las otras ramas.

DemocracyDemocracy – government by the people; – government by the people; especially; rule of the majorityespecially; rule of the majority

FederalismFederalism – A type of government in which powers – A type of government in which powers and duties between the states and the national and duties between the states and the national government are shared.government are shared.Federalismo – tipo de gobierno en que los Federalismo – tipo de gobierno en que los poderes y deberes son compartidos por los poderes y deberes son compartidos por los estados y el gobierno central.estados y el gobierno central.

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers – the term for the fact that the powers – the term for the fact that the powers of government are divided into three separate branches: of government are divided into three separate branches: legislative, executive & judicial.legislative, executive & judicial.Separacion de poderes – el mandato para el hecho de Separacion de poderes – el mandato para el hecho de que los poderes del gobierno esten divididos en tres que los poderes del gobierno esten divididos en tres ramas separadas; legislativo, ejecutivo y judicialramas separadas; legislativo, ejecutivo y judicial

Bill of RightsBill of Rights – a series of laws in a constitution that protect – a series of laws in a constitution that protect specific rights of citizens.specific rights of citizens.Declaracion de derechos – una serie de layes en una Declaracion de derechos – una serie de layes en una constitucion que protégé derechos especificos de los constitucion que protégé derechos especificos de los ciudadanos.ciudadanos.

AmendmentAmendment – an addition to a formal document – an addition to a formal document such as a constitution.such as a constitution.Enmienda – adicion a un dacumento formal Enmienda – adicion a un dacumento formal como por ejemplo un acta organica.como por ejemplo un acta organica.