GED Social Studies – College Ready Guide

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and definitions related to civics, government, US history, economics, and geography that are relevant for GED Social Studies.

Branches of Government

The three main divisions of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that no branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with the means to limit the actions of the others.

Constitution

The supreme law of the land that outlines the framework and principles of the government.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and smaller political units, like states.

Due Process

Legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person.

Rights and Liberties

Fundamental freedoms and protections guaranteed to individuals, often found in the Bill of Rights.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution, responsible for electing the president and vice president.

Primaries

Elections held to choose a party's candidate for office before a general election.

Role of Citizens

The responsibilities and participation of individuals in the civic life of their community and nation.

Revolution

A significant and rapid change in political power or organizational structures; in U.S. history, it often refers to the American Revolution.

Civil War

A conflict from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) primarily over issues of slavery and states' rights.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War during which the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union.

Industrialization

The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale, leading to economic growth.

Immigration

The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country; significantly shaped U.S. demographics and culture.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic crisis that took place during the 1930s.

New Deal

A series of programs and reforms launched by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression.

World War II

A global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice that took place mainly in the 1950s and 1960s, aimed at ending racial discrimination and promoting equal rights.

Supply and Demand

A fundamental economic principle that describes the relationship between the availability of a good or service and the desire for it.

Opportunity Cost

The loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen.

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period.

Economic Systems

The organized way in which a country allocates its resources and distributes goods and services.

Interpreting Charts, Tables, Maps

The ability to analyze and understand visual data representations.

Cause-Effect Relationships

A connection between events or actions where one causes the other.