Civics Vocab

Citizenship

The position or status of being a citizen of a particular country.

Refugee

A person who flees their country because of war, famine, or natural disaster.

Naturalization

The process of becoming a citizen.

Civics

The study of rights and responsibilities of citizens

Direct Democracy

People rule, or vote on laws, not elected officials

Representative Government

Government ruled by elected officials (example- Congress)

Salutary Neglect

British policy of loose control over the colonies, the colonies were able to rule themselves

Social Contract

An agreement between a government and its citizens

Enlightenment

A European movement of the 1600 and 1700s, emphasizing logic, science, and thought over religion; heavily influenced by Locke, Rousseau, and Adam Smith.

Rule of Law

Everyone, including government officials, must obey the law

Popular Sovereignty

The people have the power (examples- people voting directly on something like a referendum, “the consent of the governed”)

Federalism

Two levels of government, state and national, with national (federal) being supreme

Checks and Balances

Three branches, with distinct roles, use their powers to keep each other from abusing powers

Expressed Powers

Powers given to the national government in the US Constitution (example- coin money, set a budget)

Concurrent Powers

Powers that both state and federal government have (examples- taxing, laws, courts, etc.)

Reserved Powers

Powers of the states (examples- 10th amendment, schools, election process, highways, etc.)

Implied Powers

Suggested powers of Congress; not specifically written in Constitution

Preamble

An introduction to the Constitution (“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union…”)

Free Exercise Clause

Americans have the right to exercise and practice whatever religion they wish without interference from the government.

Establishment Clause

There can be no establishment of a national religion in the United States

Slander

Spoken lies that harm a person’s reputation

Libel

Written lies that harm a person’s reputation

Incumbent

A politician who has already been elected to office: The person currently holding the office

Caucus

A meeting of political party members to conduct party business

Primary Election

An election held before the general election, where political parties select their candidates

General Election

The election where leaders are voted into office

Popular Vote

The actual number of votes a candidate receives

Electoral College

Body of officials from each states (538 total) who actually elect the president, based on the votes of the people during the General Election.

Referendum

A way for citizens to vote on state or local laws directly

Canvassing

To go door to door talking to potential voters.

Cabinet

The President’s advisors; each specializes in a different facet of the Executive Branch’s Federal Bureaucracy (for example, Ben Carson serves as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development).

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which important decisions are made by officials rather than by elected representatives.

Veto

Right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor in order to delay proceedings and prevent a vote on a controversial issue.

Bicameral

Two-houses in a legislature. (In the US Congress, the two houses are the House of Representatives and the Senate.)

Majority Opinion

A majority opinion is a judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.

Concurring Opinion

A concurring opinion is a judicial opinion when someone agrees with the majority decision, but for a different reason.

Dissenting Opinion

A dissenting opinion is a judicial opinion which goes against the majority.

Probable Cause

Reasonable grounds (for making a search, pressing a charge, etc.).

Prosecutor

The institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person (a District Attorney is a prosecutor)

Defendant

Criminal case-the person that is accused of the crime. (a Public Defender is a court-appointed attorney); Civil case- group being sued.

Remand

To send a case back to a lower court to be tried again

Delinquent

Failing in or neglectful of a duty or obligation; guilty of a misdeed or offense; a habitual offender

Double Jeopardy

Trying someone for the same crime twice; this is denied under the Constitution

Capital Punishment

The death penalty

Self-Incrimination

Being forced or coerced to testify against oneself. Self-incrimination is prohibited by the Fifth