Term

Definition

amendment

Addition to or deletion from a constitution or law

biennium

a specified period of two years

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

branches of government

executive (carries out the laws ), judicial (court system), and legislative (creates the laws)

Constitution

The fundamental rules that determine how those who govern are selected, the procedures by which they operate, and the limits to their powers

discretionary spending

optional spending in a budget. This often includes things like defense, education, agriculture appropriations etc.

federalism

a way of governing that shares power between the individual states and the nation as a whole. For example, on the federation government can print money or declare war, but states are allowed to make their own laws about schools

individual rights

these are written in the Constitution and are called the Bill of Rights and cannot be taken away

mandatory spending

spending that must happen no matter what the tax income generates. This often includes things like social security, medicare, national debt interest etc.

ratified

to vote approval

viva voce

a voice vote in an assembly