Sovereignty
noun
The right and power of a country to govern itself independently....
Jurisdiction
noun
The area or range over which a government has authority....
Due Process
noun
Fair legal procedures that protect people's rights when accused of crimes....
Equal Protection
noun
The constitutional guarantee that laws treat all people the same....
Civil Liberties
noun
Basic freedoms and rights protected by the government....
Civil Rights
noun
Rights protecting people from discrimination based on race, color, or religion....
Civil Disobedience
noun
Peaceful refusal to follow unjust laws to force change....
Suffrage
noun
The right to vote in political elections....
Civic Engagement
noun
Participation by citizens in government and community activities....
Lobbying
noun
Trying to influence government officials to support your position....
Political Party
noun
An organized group of people with similar political beliefs and goals....
Electoral College
noun
The system where states' chosen electors vote for the president....
Bicameral
adjective
A legislature divided into two separate chambers or houses....
Filibuster
noun
A tactic where a senator talks at length to delay or prevent a vote....
Gerrymandering
noun
Redrawing district lines unfairly to favor one political party....
Precedent
noun
An earlier court decision used as a guide for future similar cases....
Judicial Review
noun
The power of courts to decide if laws are constitutional....
Advocacy
noun
Speaking or arguing in support of a cause or person....
Grassroots
adjective
Starting from ordinary people rather than leaders or institutions....
Referendum
noun
A vote where citizens directly approve or reject a proposed law or policy....