branch
laanta
one of three parts of our government
EXAMPLE: In the United States, there are three branches of government: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch.
enforce
xoojin
to make people obey a rule or law
EXAMPLE: The teacher enforced the rule about cell phones. If she saw one, she took it away for the rest of the day.
interpret
tarjunto
to explain or decide what some words mean
EXAMPLE: There is a law against smoking in public places. Judges decide what exactly the law means. They interpret the law.
pardon
cafin
an official decision to forgive someone who has committed a crime, and allow them to go free
EXAMPLE: The president decided to pardon people who were in prison for having a small amount of marijuana.
veto
diidmo-qayaxan
to not allow something to happen after others said it was okay
EXAMPLE: The president did not like the new law. She vetoed it before it became official.
carry out
fuliso
PHRASAL VERB: to do or complete something
EXAMPLE: On Friday afternoon, my boss told me to throw away all the food in our company refrigerator. I carried out his order. Some of my coworkers were not happy Monday morning when they found out what I had done.
checks and balances
jeegag iyo isku dheelitirnaan
a way to prevent one person (the president) or group (Supreme Court or Congress) from having too much power
EXAMPLE: In the United States, each branch of government has power, but no branch has more power than the others. Also, each branch can limit the actions of the other branches. This is called our system of checks and balances.
Congress
Golaha
the legislative branch
EXAMPLE: Congress is made up of elected representatives and senators. Congress makes laws.
divide
qaybin
to separate into parts or groups
EXAMPLE: Our government is divided into three branches.
executive branch
waaxda fulinta
the president, vice president, and the cabinet
EXAMPLE: The job of the executive branch is to enforce the laws.
federal
federaalka
relating to the country as a whole, not to individual states
EXAMPLE: We pay taxes to the federal government. One way they use the money is to support elderly people by giving them social security. Another way they use the tax money is to repair roads.
Founding Fathers
Aasaasidda Aabayaal
the group of men who started the United States and wrote its constitution
EXAMPLE: The most famous Founding Father is George Washington.
justices
cadaalad
people who judge in a court of law, a synonym for judge
EXAMPLE: There are 9 justices on the Supreme Court.
hear a case
maqal dacwad
listen to a trial officially
EXAMPLE: In a criminal case, if a judge hears a case, they listen to it in court to decide if someone is guilty or innocent.
judicial branch
waaxda garsoorka
the Supreme Court and its 9 judges, as well as other federal courts
EXAMPLE: The judicial branch hears cases and interprets laws.
legislative branch
waaxda sharci dajinta
Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives
EXAMPLE: The legislative branch of our government makes laws.
nominate
magacaabid
to officially suggest a person for a position
EXAMPLE: The president nominates the justices for the Supreme Court. Then the person is approved or disapproved by Congress.
system
nidaam
a way or method of doing things
EXAMPLE: When I served on a jury, I learned a lot about the American legal system.