What word means the legal process?
Answer
Justice
Explanation
The word that means the legal process, on the USCIS reading vocabulary list, is Justice. Justice carries two related meanings on the citizenship test: the broader concept of fairness in the legal system and the title given to judges of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Preamble to the Constitution lists "establish Justice" as one of the six purposes of the federal government, alongside forming a more perfect union, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty. Justice in this Preamble sense means a system in which laws are applied fairly and consistently, disputes are resolved through impartial courts, and rights are protected against violation.
The federal Department of Justice (DOJ), headed by the Attorney General, is the executive branch agency responsible for enforcing federal law, prosecuting federal crimes, and representing the United States in court. DOJ component agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshals Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
As a title, Justice is used for members of the U.S. Supreme Court: the Chief Justice and the eight Associate Justices. State supreme courts also use Justice or a similar title for their highest court members.
The phrase "liberty and justice for all," recited at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance, captures the aspirational ideal that justice belongs equally to every person under U.S. law. On the reading test Justice may appear in a sentence about courts, the Supreme Court, or the principles of government.
Why this matters for your test
Justice is the word that names both an aspirational principle and a specific institution, the Supreme Court. Recognizing it in print connects the reading test to the Preamble of the Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, and civics questions about the Supreme Court, the rule of law, and the role of the judicial branch in protecting rights.
Source: USCIS Reading Vocabulary (2025)
