U.S. Government Vocabulary

The State of the Union is an annual address delivered by the President to a joint session of Congress. It outlines the administration's view on the state of the nation and proposes legislative goals.

Checks and balances is the constitutional principle that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. Each branch has specific powers to limit or oversee the others.

To appoint someone is to assign them to a position, typically by an authority figure, rather than through a public election process. This is common for federal judges and cabinet members.

The U.S. Congress is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Senate is the smaller body, with two members per state, whereas the House is based on population.

Cloture is a parliamentary procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill. It requires a supermajority vote to succeed.

A veto is the constitutional power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress. It prevents the bill from becoming law unless Congress overrides it.

A constituent is a person represented by an elected official. Politicians are responsible for serving the interests of their constituents.

Separation of powers is the principle that divides government authority into three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This prevents the concentration of power.

A bill is a proposed piece of legislation introduced in a legislative body. If it passes both houses and is signed by the executive, it becomes a law.

Impeachment is the formal process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official. It is the first step in the process of potentially removing them from office.

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. This position is elected by the members of the House.

Congress is the national legislative body of the United States. It is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The census is an official count of the population conducted every ten years in the United States. It is used to determine representation in Congress.