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.