CIVICS FULL STUDY GUIDE

Citizen

Members of a community who owe loyalty to a government in exchange for protection

Civics

The study of the rights and duties of citizens

Citizenship

the rights and duties of citizens

Immigrant

a foreign-born resident of the United States who has not been naturalized

refugee

person who flees to another country to escape danger

resident immigrant

A legal immigrant who permanently lives in the US

nonresident immigrant

people who expect to stay in US for a short, specified time

undocumented immigrant

person in US illegally

Naturalization

A legal process to obtain citizenship

Requirements for naturalization

18

lawful permanent residence for five years

read, write, and speak English

have good moral character

show an understanding or U.S. civics

How do you become a natural born citizen

Born in the U.S. or U.S. territories, or born in another country and both parents are U.S. citizens OR one parent has lived in the U.S.

Expatriation

someone voluntarily gives up their allegiance to a foreign country loses their citizen ship

denaturalization

naturalized citizens who have lied on their citizenship application are denaturalized, or lose their citizenship

Americans lose their citizenship by...

-Expatriation

-Denaturalization

-Being convicted of crimes: those guilty of treason, taking part in rebellion, or trying to overthrow

What are duties of citizens

Obey laws, pay taxes, defend the nation, serve in court, attend school,

4 functions of government

keeping order, providing security, providing services, guiding the community

Direct Democracy

people vote on issues/laws directly

Representative democracy

citizens choose a group of people to represent them, make laws and govern on their behalf

Republic

citizens have a role in choosing the head of state-we have this in US

Constitutional Monarchy

the government has a hereditary ruler, but their power is severely limited-ex. Canada

Authoritarian Government

give power to one person or group rather than being accountable to the people

Oligarchy

a small group holds the power ex. China and Russia

Totalitarian dictatorship

the government controls almost all aspects of people's lives. ex. North Korea and Nazi Germany

Anarchy

No government at all

Democratic Government

a system of government in which power rests with the citizens of the country

Rule of Law

In a democracy, all people, including those who govern must obey the law. Laws must be made in a transparent way

Limited Government

In a democracy, Government is not all powerful, it is limited by the people and the Constitution

Individual Rights

Individual rights are protected by the government in a democracy. Ex. Freedom of speech, press, speedy trial, due process

Consent of the Governed

In a democracy the idea that the power comes from the people

Free, Fair, and Competitive Elections

Every citizen's vote has equal value. They choose between candidates and parties. They vote by secret ballot free from government interference.

Unitary System

power is concentrated in the hands of one central government

Federal System

sharing power between the levels of government federal and state governments