 | Term | Definition |
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civics |
the study of being a citizen |
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legislature |
a lawmaking body of government |
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census |
an official count of people in a country |
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Preamble |
the Introduction to the Constitution |
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democracy |
a form of government in which the people of a country try either to rule directly or through elected representatives |
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Bill of Rights |
the first ten Amendments of the Constitution |
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bicameral |
consisting of two houses, as a lawmaking body |
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boycott |
to stop buying or using a good or service |
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Amendment |
a written change to the Constitution |
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sovereignty |
a government's absolute power or authority |
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slander |
spoken false statements that damage another person's reputation |
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suffrage |
a right to vote |
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unicameral |
consisting of one house, as a lawmaking body |
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filibuster |
a method of delaying action on a bill in the senate by making long speeches |
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popular sovereignty |
consent of the governed |
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audit |
an examination by an accountant of a government's or business's income or expenditures |
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deficit |
the amount by which expenditures exceed income |
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tariff |
a tax on products imported from other countries |
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poll |
a survey taken to measure public opinion |
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lobbyist |
a person paid to represent a group's veiwpoint |
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secret ballot |
method of voting in which a voter marks a ballot in secret |
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favorite sons and daughters |
men or women, popular in their home state, who are nominates for president by their state's delegates who are the first ballot at a national nominating convention |
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grassroots |
originating, as in political support, from many individuals rather than from national parties and large organizations |
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electoral college |
the group of electors that casts the official votes that elect the president and vice president |
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referendum |
a method of referring a poll to the voters for approval before the bill can become a law |
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extradition |
a legal process for returning criminals to the place from which they fled |
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penal code |
a set of criminal laws |
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subpoena |
an official court order requiring a person to appear in court |
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segregate |
to separate by the basis of race |
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precedent |
an earlier court decision that guides a judges' decisions in later cases |
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jurisdiction |
the authority to interpret and administer the law; also, the range of that authority |
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brief |
a written statement explaining the main points of one side's argument in a court case |
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passport |
formal documents that allow U.S. citizens to travel abroad |
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reprieve |
a postponement in the carrying out of a prison sentence |
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treaties |
written agreements between nations |
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diplomatic notes |
written communications between diplomats |
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party whip |
the assistant to the floor leader in each house of Congress who tries to persuade party members to vote for bills the party supports |
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floor leader |
a political party leader in Congress who works for the passage of bills the party favors |
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bill of attainder |
a law sentencing someone to jail without a trial |
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writ of habeas corpus |
a court order requiring tge accused person to be brought to court to determine if there is enough evidence to hold that person for trial |
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appropriation bill |
a bill approving the spending of extra public money |
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quorum |
the minimum number of member who must be present before a legislative body can conduct business |
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gerrymandering |
the process of drawing congressional district lines to favor a political party |
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cloture |
a limit on debate |
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grand jury |
a group that hears evidence in criminal case and decides whether there is enough evidence to bring accused person to trial |
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trial jury |
a group of citizens who are charged with judging a person charged with a crime |
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civil rights |
the rights guaranteed to all U.S. citizens |
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eminent domain |
the power of the government to take private property for public use |
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due process of law |
the fair application of the law to one's case |
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double jeopardy |
bring tried a second time for the same crime |
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diplomatic immunity |
exemption from taxation or normal processes of law that is offered to diplomatic personnel in a foreign country |
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libel |
written falsehoods that damage another person's reputation |
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indict |
to formally accuse a person of a crime |
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veto |
a refusal by the president or governor to sign a bill |
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ratification |
approval by formal vote |
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Parliament |
the lawmaking body of British government |
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naturalization |
a legal process by which aliens become citizens |
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refugees |
people who flee persecution in their homeland to seek safety in another country |
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direct democracy |
a form of government in which all the people meet together at one place and make laws and decide what actions to take |
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magistrate judges |
officials who hear cases against accused persons and decides whether those cases should be brought before a grand jury |
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remand |
to return an appealed case to a lower court for a new trial |
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full faith and credit clause |
the provision in the constitution ensuring that each state will accept the decisions of civil courts in other states |
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sheriff |
the chief law-enforcement official in some county governments |
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block grants |
federal funds given to state and local governments for broad purposes |
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grants-in-aid |
federal funds given to state and local governments for specific purposes |
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political action committees |
(PAC) the political arms of an interest group that collect voluntary contributions from members to fund political candidates and parties the interest group favors |
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party platform |
a written statement outlining a political party's views on issues and describing the programs it proposes |
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mass media |
forms of communication that transmit information to large numbers of people |
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migration |
the movement of people from region to region |
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dissenting opinion |
a statement written by a Supreme Court justice who disagrees |
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concurring opinion |
a statement written by a Supreme Court justice who agrees with the majority decision but for different reasons |
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impeachment |
a formal charge brought against a government official |
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diplomacy |
the art of dealing with foreign governments |
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jurors |
members of a trial jury who judge evidence and determine the verdict in a court case |
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constitutional law |
law based on Constitution and Supreme Court decisions |
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charter |
basic plans of government granted by the state legislatures to local governments |
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warrant |
an order to pay out government funds |
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aliens |
people who live in a nation but are not citizens of that nation |
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Federalists |
Supporter of the Constitution who urged its adoption |
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Anti-Federalists |
opponents of the Constitution who urged its rejection |
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State of the Union Address |
A yearly report by the president to Congress describing the nation's condition and recommending programs and policies |
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ambassador |
the highest ranking officials representing a government in a foreign country |
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embassy |
the official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country |
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consulate |
the office of a consul |
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constable |
officers that enforce township laws |
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lieutenant governor |
the official who succeeds the governor if the governor dies, resigns or is removed from office |
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defendant |
a person accused of a crime in a court case |
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plaintiff |
the person or company filing a complaint in a civil lawsuit |
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franking privileges |
the right of members of Congress to mail official letters free of charge |
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seniority |
the custom giving leadership of committees to members of Congress with the most years of service |
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sessions |
meetings of Congress |
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independent agencies |
agencies in the executive branch of the federal government formed by Congress to help enforce laws and regulations not covered by the executive departments |
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appellate jurisdiction |
the authority of some courts to review decisions made by lower courts |
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item veto |
the power of the head of the executive branch to reject one part of a bill but approve the rest of it |
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Articles of Confederation |
In June 1776 the Continental Congress appointed a committee to draw up a plan of government—the Articles of Confederation. In 1781 it was approved by the 13 states. The AC set up a “firm league of friendship” among the 13 states. The states had total sovereignty. The national government had limited power since the states feared that the national government would be like King George III |
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Leader of State Government |
Governor. Approves or vetoes all bills passed by legislature. Proposes laws and programs to the legislature. Appoints and removes certain state officials. Controls state police and militia. Can pardon criminals and grant reprieves. Supervises state executive branch. Acts as a political party leader. |
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Types of propaganda |
1. Bandwagon “The latest polls show a growing majority of people support candidate Smith!” (come and join everyone) 2. Name-Calling “Candidate John is corrupt and caters to specials interests!” 3. Card Stacking “Candidate Smith is clearly the most qualified!” 4. Plain-Folks Appeal “Vote for candidate Smith, who clearly understands the problems of our town!” 5. Glittering Generalities “A vote for Smith is a vote for happiness!” 6. Testimonials “Candidate Smith is someone you can trust. He has our vote!” |
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Cabinet and Executive Departments |
George Washington had the help of only five executive departments. However, that has drastically changed; there are currently 14 executive departments. Which are Department of: State, Justice, Treasury, Transportation, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Defense, Interior, Health and Human Services, Education, Veterans’ Affairs, Energy, Agriculture. |
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Majority Leader |
The floor leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives |
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Constitution |
A written plan of government. This U.S. Constitution outlines all the laws and regulations that the American people go by. |
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Declaration of Independence |
Explains the reasons the thirteen colonies decided to separate from Great Britain and to form an independent country. It is also a statement of American Ideals. It clearly explains that the purpose of government is to protect human rights. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It was approved by members of the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. |
