1. amendment /əˈmend·mənt/ n.
a change or addition to the US constitution:
the First/Fifth/Fourteenth amendment

2. legislative /ˈledʒ·əsˌleɪ·t̬ɪv/ adj.
relating to the making of laws:
Congress is the legislative branch of government.

3. executive /ɪgˈzek·jə·t̬ɪv/ n.
someone in a high position, esp. in business, who makes decisions and acts according to them:
a chief executive

4. judiciary /dʒʊˈdɪʃ·iˌer·i/n.
the part of a country’s government that is responsible for its legal system and that consists of all the judges in its courts of law

5. ratify /ˈræt̬·əˌfɑɪ/ v.
esp. of governments or organizations) to agree in writing to a set of rules, or to officially approve a decision or plan:
Four countries have now ratified the agreement.

6. veto /ˈvi·t̬oʊ/ n.
the power to refuse to allow something to be done, or such a refusal:
The president has promised a veto if Congress passes that bill.

7. eminent /ˈem·ə·nənt/ adj.
famous and important:
The commission consisted of fifteen eminent political figures.
 
8. laissez-faire ˌles·eɪˈfeər/ n .
an economic theory or plan in which a government does not have many laws or rules to control the buying and selling of goods and services

9. boycott /ˈbɔɪ·kɑt/ v.
to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval:
The union called on its members to boycott the meeting.

10. filibuster /ˈfɪl·əˌbʌs·tər/ n.
(in a legislature) a way of preventing a law from being passed by using the rules or making long speeches to delay voting on it

11. senator /ˈsen·ə·t̬ər/ n.
a member of a senate, esp. of the US Senate:
Write to your senator about your concerns.

12. controversial /ˌkɑn·trəˈvɜr·ʃəl/ adj.
causing or likely to cause disagreement:
a controversial theory/movie

13. impeachment /ɪmˈpitʃ·mənt/ n.
to formally accuse a public official of a serious crime in connection with their job
The federal judge faces impeachment.

14. federal /ˈfed·ər·əl/ adj.
of or connected with the central government of some countries:
Federal law regulates trade with other countries.

15. appropriation /əˌproʊ·priˈeɪ·ʃən/ n.
an amount of money kept separate to use for a particular purpose, esp. by a government:
The city council approved an appropriation of $10,000 to plant trees.

16. referendum /ˌref·əˈren·dəm/ n.
a vote in which all the people in a country or an area decide on an important question

17. gerrymandering /ˈdʒer·iˌmæn·də·rɪŋ/ n.
to divide an area into election districts (= areas that elect someone) in a way that gives an unfair advantage to one group or political party

18. lame /leɪm/ adj.
not able to walk correctly because of physical injury or weakness of the legs or feet

19. legislative /ˈledʒ·əsˌleɪ·t̬ɪv/ adj.
relating to the making of laws:
Congress is the legislative branch of government.

20. capitol ˈkæp·ɪ·t̬əl/ n.
the building in which the US Congress meets

21.commodities
anything that can be bought and sold:
The goal is to raise the productivity of basic food commodities such as grains.

22. reciprocity /ˌresɪˈprɒsɪti/ n.
a situation in which two groups agree to help each other by behaving in the same way or by giving each other similar advantages:
We offer to all our trading partners a commitment to reciprocity and fairness.

23. asset /ˈæs·et/n.
something having value, such as a possession or property, that is owned by a person, business, or organization

24. liability /ˌlɑɪ·əˈbɪl·ɪ·t̬i/ n.
the responsibility of a person, business, or organization to pay or give up something of value:
He denies any liability in the accident.

25. solvency /ˈsɑl·vən·si/ n.
having enough money to pay all your debts
The government should certify the solvency of the companies it regulates