Key Terms

Executive Branch: The branch of federal and state government that is broadly
responsible for implementing, supporting, and enforcing the laws made by the
legislative branch and interpreted by the judicial branch.
Public or Civil Service: A service which is provided by government to people living
within its jurisdiction. the permanent professional branches of a government's
administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians.
Legislative Branch: The part of the United States government that creates laws.
Whenever you read about congress people in the Senate or House debating a law,
you're reading about the legislative branch: the branch of the government that writes,
debates, and passes laws. Making laws can be called legislating.
Leader of the Opposition: A title traditionally held by the leader of the largest
party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government.
Bill: An amount of money owed for goods supplied or services rendered, set out in a
printed or written statement of charges.
Judicial Branch: One of three branches of the federal government. The judicial
branch includes criminal and civil courts and helps interpret the United States
Constitution.
Riding: One of three former administrative divisions of Yorkshire or an electoral district
of Canada.
Political Party: An organization of people which seeks to achieve goals common to
its members through the acquisition and exercise of political power.
Caucus: A meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a
particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy.
Cabinet Solidarity: Cabinet solidarity means that all members of cabinet must
support cabinet decisions.
Responsible Government: A government that is responsible to the people. In
Canada responsible government is more commonly described as an executive or
Cabinet that is dependent on the support of an elected assembly, rather than on the
monarch.
Party Platform: A list of the values and actions which are supported by a political
party or individual candidate, in order to appeal to the general public, for the ultimate
purpose of garnering the general public's support and votes about complicated topics or

issues.

Representation By Population: A method by which seats are allocated in the

House of Commons in such a way as to vary with population.
Riding or Constituency: A territorial subdivision for electing members to a
legislative body.
By-Election: An election to fill a vacancy arising during a term of office.
Prime Minister: The head of an elected government; the principal minister of a
sovereign or state.
Cabinet: A body of advisers to the president, composed of the heads of the executive
departments of the government.