Civics Vocabulary – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
immigrant
answer
a person who comes to a country where they were not born in order to settle there
question
popular sovereignty
answer
rule by the people
question
citizen
answer
a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
question
civics
answer
The study of the rights and duties of citizens
question
alien
answer
a person who comes from a foreign country
question
naturalization
answer
the legal process by which a person is granted citizenship
question
responsibility
answer
An obligation that we meet of our own free will
question
duty
answer
an action we are required to do
question
tolerance
answer
respecting and accepting others, regardless of their beliefs, practices, or differences
question
representative democracy
answer
a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf
question
majority rules
answer
the majority of the members of a community have the power to make laws that aplly to all members of community
question
authoritarian regime
answer
a government in which one leader or group holds absolute power
question
republic
answer
a representative democracy where citizens choose their lawmakers, such as the United States
question
limited government
answer
the principle that a ruler or a government is not all-powerful
question
legislature
answer
a group of people who make laws
question
social contract
answer
an agreement among people in a society and their government
question
natural rights
answer
a freedom people have relating to life, liberty, and property
question
direct democracy
answer
a government where citizens make laws
question
dissenter
answer
a person or group who opposes official or commonly held views or policies
question
liberty
answer
freedom
question
proclamation
answer
a formal public statement
question
boycott
answer
to refuse to buy certain goods or services, usually as a protest
question
repeal
answer
to cancel a law
question
duty (as in tax)
answer
a tax on imports
question
delegate (n.)
answer
a representative to a meeting
question
political party
answer
a group of candidates and voters who share common interests and political ideas
question
The two party-system
answer
a system of government in which two political parties compete for power
question
platform
answer
a series of statements expressing a party's principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues
question
primary election
answer
voters choose a candidate to represent a party in a general election
question
candidate
answer
a person running for a political office
question
majority
answer
a number that is more than 50 percent of the total
question
plurality
answer
the most votes among those running for a politcal office (less than 50% of the votes)
question
ballot
answer
the list of candidates for which you can cast a vote
question
ticket
answer
a list of candidates nominated by a political party to run for election to public offices
question
Electoral College
answer
A group of 538 people, called electors, who are selected by the voters in each state. This group officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States.
question
popular vote
answer
the votes cast by individual voters in a presidential election, as opposed to the electoral vote
question
winner-take-all system
answer
a system in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of the state's electoral votes
question
Super PAC
answer
A Political Action Committee to which corporations, unions, and other organizations can donate unlimited amounts of money to support a candidate or issue
question
swing state
answer
a state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections.
question
campaign
answer
a race between candidates for elective office
question
spin
answer
an interpretation of campaign events or election results that is favorable to the candidate's campaign strategy, i.e. to make something bad sound good
question
Red State/Blue State
answer
Red States: Generally vote for the Republican candidate. (more conservative) Blue States: Generally vote for the Democrat candidate. (more Liberal)
question
the 99% - 1%
answer
a division between the very rich and powerful (1%) and the rest of the nation (99%)
question
tracking poll
answer
polls taken before an election asking voters who they plan to vote for
question
exit poll
answer
polls taken after voters have cast their ballot, asking who they voted for.
question
constitution
answer
the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
question
ratify
answer
to formally approve
question
ordinance
answer
a law or regulation
question
Shays Rebellion
answer
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.
question
Northwest Ordinance
answer
Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states
question
Articles of Confederation
answer
This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage.
question
Federalists
answer
Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution.
question
Anti-Federalists
answer
opponents of a strong central government who campaigned against the ratification of the Constitution in favor of a confederation of independant states
question
Federalist Papers
answer
a series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay (using the name "publius") published in NY newspapers and used to convice readers to adopt the new constitution
question
Constitutional Convention
answer
The meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.
question
The Great Compromise
answer
A state's representation in the House of Representation would be based on population; Two senators for each state; all bills would originate in the house; direct taxes on states were to be assessed according to population
question
The Three-Fifths Compromise
answer
Compromise that determined how enslaved person would be counted for taxation and representation...3/5 of all population of slaves would be counted for representation and taxation
question
The Bill of Rights
answer
First 10 amendments of the Const. 1st 9 limited Congress' Power, the 10th gave states the power to make laws not included in the Constitution.
question
The Preamble
answer
The introductory paragraph to the U.S. Constitution that establishes justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty...etc.
question
Articles
answer
one of seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution
question
amendments
answer
changes to the Constitution
question
clause
answer
a separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)
question
checks and balances
answer
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
question
separation of powers
answer
the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
question
rule of law
answer
principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
question
civil liberties
answer
freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment
question
free speech
answer
the right to say our opinions, in public or in private, without fear of being stopped or punished by the government for those ideas
question
censorship
answer
restricting access to ideas and information
question
petition
answer
formal request to someone in authority, usually written and signed by a group of people
question
warrant
answer
a court order allowing police to search property and seize evidence
question
indictment
answer
a formal charge by a grand jury
question
double jeopardy
answer
being tried twice for the same crime
question
due process
answer
following established legal procedures
question
probable cause
answer
a reasonable basis to believe a person or premises is linked to a crime
question
self-incrimination
answer
the situation occurring when an individual accused of a crime is compelled to be a witness against himself or herself in court. The Fifth Amendment forbids self-incrimination.
question
Senate
answer
the upper house of the United States Congress
question
House of Representatives
answer
lower house of Congress based on state population
question
constituent
answer
a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent
question
census
answer
count of the US population done every 10 years
question
expressed powers
answer
powers that Congress has that are specifically listed in the Constitution
question
implied powers
answer
powers that Congress has that are not stated explicitly in the Constitution
question
elastic clause
answer
the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers
question
casework
answer
the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
question
filibuster
answer
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
question
executive order
answer
a rule issued by the president that has the force of law
question
pardon
answer
release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President (in a federal case) or a governor (in a state case)
question
cabinet
answer
persons appointed by the president to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers
question
federal bureau
answer
an agency (or office) of the federal government
question
foreign policy
answer
A nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations
question
national security
answer
the ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm
question
treaty
answer
a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries
question
trade sanctions
answer
an effort to punish another nation by imposing trade barriers
question
embargo
answer
a government order preventing trade with another country
question
global interdependence
answer
people and nations all over the world now depend upon one another for many goods and services
question
trade war
answer
a hostile situation in which nations attempt to damage each other's trade; a period in which two nations alternate in restricting trade from the other
question
deforestation
answer
destruction of forests
question
ethnic group
answer
people of the same race or nationality who share a distinctive culture
question
terrorism
answer
the use of violence by groups against civilians to achieve a political goal
question
refugee
answer
a person forced to leave her or his home or country seeking protection from danger
question
non-governmental organizations
answer
an organization that operates independently of any government body, usually through individual volunteer efforts and private donations
question
diplomat
answer
a person who represents the government of a country in dealings with governments of other nations
question
human rights
answer
the basic rights to which all people are entitled as human beings
question
genocide
answer
deliberate killing of a racial or cultural group
question
constitutional law
answer
law based on the constitution and supreme court decisions
question
criminal law
answer
the body of law dealing with crimes and their punishment
question
civil law
answer
law concerned with private wrongs against individuals
question
ruling
answer
an official decision by a judge or a court that settles a case and may also establish the meaning of a law
question
precedent
answer
a ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case
question
appeal
answer
To ask a higher court to review the decision and determine if justice was done
question
opinion
answer
the reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
question
jurisdiction
answer
(n.) an area of authority or control; the right to administer justice
question
judicial review
answer
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
question
plaintiff
answer
one who brings a court action against another
question
defendant
answer
an individual or group being sued or charged with a crime
question
affirmative action
answer
a policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities
question
verdict
answer
the decision reached at the end of a trial
question
sentence
answer
(criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed
question
prosecution
answer
the lawyers acting for the state to put the case against the defendant
question
felony
answer
a serious crime (such as murder or arson)
question
misdemeanor
answer
a crime or offense that is less serious than a felony; any minor misbehavior or misconduct
question
plea bargain
answer
(criminal law) a negotiation in which the defendant agrees to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser charge and the prosecutor agrees to drop a more serious charge
question
summons
answer
an order to appear in person at a given place and time
question
damages
answer
a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
question
compromise
answer
A settlement in which each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement.
question
ratify
answer
To approve
question
propaganda
answer
Information aimed at positively or negatively influencing the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people.
question
self-government
answer
A system of government in which people make their own laws.
question
monarchy
answer
A government ruled by a king or queen
question
oligarchy
answer
A government in which only a few rich people have power
question
autocracy
answer
A form of government in which a single individual rules
question
totalitarian government
answer
Government with one ruler, one legal party, few rights (if any) for the people; often uses terror to control the people
question
popular sovereignty
answer
A belief that ultimate power of government resides in the people.
question
citizen
answer
A person with certain rights and responsibilities in his or her country or community
question
government
answer
the ruling authority for a community
question
security
answer
A feeling of being free from fear, danger, etc. The opposite of freedom.
question
freedom
answer
Liberty. The opposite of security
question
parliamentary
answer
a system of government where power lies with the legislative body and the leader of the country is part of the legislature
question
unitary government
answer
A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.
question
federal government
answer
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
question
confederal government
answer
a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government
