UNIT 4

UN Law of the Sea

An international treaty that establishes rules for using the world's oceans and seas.

Territorial Sea

The area extending 12 nautical miles from a state's coastline where the state has full sovereignty.

Contiguous Zone

The area extending 24 nautical miles from a coastline where a state has limited jurisdiction to prevent customs violations.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

The area extending 200 nautical miles from a coastline where a nation has sovereign rights to explore and exploit natural resources.

Median Line Principle

A method for dividing maritime boundaries equidistantly between two countries when they do not have 200 miles of coast.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another.

Census

A process that provides data on population distribution important for redistricting.

Centripetal Force

A force that brings a country together.

Centrifugal Force

A force that divides a country and can lead to conflict among groups.

Berlin Conference

A meeting held in 1884-1885 to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa.

Neocolonialism

The practice of former colonial powers exerting influence over newly independent states through economic and political means.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary established before an area is populated, often based on physical features.

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary drawn after settlement that may not reflect cultural divisions.

Consequent Boundary

A political boundary established to accommodate cultural or ethnic differences.

Superimposed Boundary

Boundaries imposed by an external power disregarding existing cultural divisions.

Natural Boundary

A political border defined by naturally occurring geographical features.

Geometric Boundary

A political boundary defined by straight lines or geometric shapes.

Relic Boundary

A boundary that no longer exists but may still be reflected in the cultural landscape.

Supranational Organizations

Multinational associations with authority over member states.

Federal Governance

A system where powers are divided between national and regional governments.

Unitary Governance

A system where a central government holds most of the power and laws are uniform across the country.