Social Sciences 7 Vocabulary List 7.4B
democratic government – Government in which all people are allowed to participate in the
government. In the United States it is done through elected representatives.
depression – Period when business activity slows and unemployment rises.
Electoral College – Group of electors from each state who actually elect the President.
execute – to carry out
executive branch – Branch of government responsible for carrying out the laws.
federalism – Principle of the Constitution that says the government power is shared between the
United States government and the states.
federal government – Another name for the United States government.
Great Compromise – Compromise regarding representation at the Constitutional Convention. It was a
compromise between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan. It set up the government with three
branches of government and a bicameral legislature.
House of Representatives – House of Congress whose membership is determined by the population in
the state.
impeachment – Bringing charges of serious wrongdoings against an elected official.
judicial branch – Branch of government which determines if laws are fair or constitutional. The main
group of this branch is the Supreme Court.
judicial review – Principle of the Constitution that says the judicial branch can declare a law
unconstitutional.
legislative branch – Branch of government which makes the laws. Congress is the main group.
limited power of government – Principle of the Constitution that said the power of government was
limited. It could only use the power given to it by the Constitution.
New Jersey Plan – Plan for representation proposed at the Constitutional Convention that favored
small states.