Intro to Civics Vocabulary

Foundational Concepts of Civics

  • Civics: The formal study of citizenship and government functions.

  • Citizen: An individual who is a legally recognized member of a specific country.

  • Government: The group of people who exercise political authority over the citizens of a region.

  • The U.S. Constitution: Defined as the "supreme law of the land."

  • Study of Civics: The primary purpose of studying this subject is to learn how to be a better citizen.

  • Values: These are the core ideas that people hold dear and strive to live by in their daily lives.

  • Three American Values: The core values defining the American experience are equality, liberty, and justice.

Immigration, Citizenship, and Naturalization

  • Native-born: An individual who was born within the United States.

  • Immigrants: Individuals who arrived in the United States from other countries.

  • Aliens: Permanent residents of the United States who maintain their legal citizenship with another country.

  • Illegal Alien: A person who is residing in a country without legal permission.

  • Refugee: A person who flees their home country to escape disaster or persecution.

  • Visa: A temporary card or permit that allows an individual to stay in the country for specific reasons, such as education or employment.

  • Quota: A specific, predetermined number of immigrants from certain countries who are allowed entry into the country each year.

  • Naturalization: The established legal process through which an alien may transition to becoming a citizen.

  • Steps for Naturalization:

    • Maintaining residency in the United States for a minimum of 55 years.

    • Passing a formal background check.

    • Completing and passing a naturalization test.

    • Taking a formal oath of allegiance.

  • Law of Soil: A legal principle stating that if an individual is born in the United States, they are automatically granted citizenship.

  • Law of Blood: A legal principle stating that an individual is a citizen if at least one of their parents was a United States citizen at the time of their birth.

  • Immigration Agencies: The primary agencies dealing with immigration matters include:

    • Border Patrol

    • ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

    • INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service)

Society and National Identity

  • The American Dream: A conceptual goal involving the pursuit of better schools, greater success, and more opportunity.

  • Melting Pot: A societal model in which people from various nationalities assimilate and blend together to form a single, unified American culture.

  • Salad Bowl: A societal model in which people from different countries maintain their unique cultural identities and do not blend into a single culture.

  • Population: The specific number of people living in a particular area.

  • Census: A comprehensive population count conducted every 1010 years.

  • National Symbol: An object or entity that represents America, such as the bald eagle.

Governance and Civic Engagement

  • Democracy: A system of government that is powered by the people.

  • Republic: A system of government characterized by the use of representatives to manage affairs.

  • Responsibilities: These are actions that a citizen should do but is not legally forced to do. Examples include:

    • Voting in elections.

    • Staying informed on current events.

    • Volunteering within the community.

  • Civic Duty: A moral or legal obligation that a citizen must perform. Exercising these duties is what defines an individual as a good citizen.