civics test 1

responsibility

An obligation or duty that an individual is expected to fulfill.

duty

A moral or legal obligation; a task or action that someone is required to perform.

jury service

The obligation of a citizen to serve on a jury when summoned.

tolerance

The ability or willingness to accept the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.

welfare

The health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group; often refers to government support for those unable to support themselves.

volunteerism

The use of one's time and talents for charitable, educational, or other worthwhile activities, often without payment.

public policy

The principles on which social laws are based, often established by government.

representative democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

direct democracy

A form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly.

federal system (U.S.)

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

constitutional monarchy

A system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government.

majority rule

A fundamental principle of democracy that the majority's decision is accepted by all.

authoritarian

A governing system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.

totalitarian

A political system in which the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life.

ideology

A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

socialism

A political and economic theory advocating for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

debt

An amount of money borrowed by one party from another, often requiring repayment with interest.

immigrant

A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

diversity

The state of being diverse; variety, especially in terms of race, culture, and ethnicity.

ethnic group

A community of people who share a common cultural background or descent.

values

Principles or standards of behavior that are regarded as important in a society.

institution

An established law, practice, or custom in a society.

popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution that guarantee individual rights.

citizen / citizenship

A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.

ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.

natural born ("soil")

A person who is a citizen of a country by birth, not by naturalization.

Green card

An identification card issued to immigrants that allows them to live and work permanently in the U.S.

naturalization ("blood")

The legal process by which a non-citizen acquires citizenship in a country.

resident alien

A non-citizen who is legally permitted to live and work in a country.

non-resident alien

A non-citizen who does not reside in the country but may visit or work temporarily.

refugee

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

undocumented

A person who is in a country without legal permission or documentation.

priority

The fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important.

expatriation

The act of renouncing one's citizenship in a country.

Dred Scott

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans could not be American citizens.