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Civcs Exam - Vocab
Civics dictioanry words
179
History
8th Grade
05/25/2010

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Term
Immigrants
Definition
-People who move from one country to make their home in another.
Term
Census
Definition
- an official count of the population made every ten years to find out how many representatives each state should have.
Term
Demographics
Definition
-Data on the U.S.
Term
Beliefs
Definition
-Certain ideas that people trust are true.
Term
Values
Definition
-Standards of behavior; guidelines for how people should treat each other.
Term
Equality
Definition
-The conditions of everyone having the same rights and opportunities.
Term
Freedom
Definition
-The ability to say what you want, go where you want, and do what you want.
Term
Justice
Definition
- Fairness; the idea that every person deserves to be treated fairly.
Term
Citizen
Definition
- A person with certain rights and duties under a government; a person who by birth or by choice owes allegiance, or loyalty, to a nation.
Term
Naturalized
Definition
- The process you go through to become a citizen.
Term
Alien
Definition
-a citizen of one country who lives in another.
Term
Representative
Definition
- people who are chosen to speak and act for their fellow citizens in government.
Term
Jury of Peers
Definition
- a group of ordinary citizens who hear the case and decide whether the accused person is innocent or guilty.
Term
Witnesses
Definition
- a person who has special information that may help determines whether the accused person is guilty or innocent.
Term
Common Good
Definition
- the well-being of all members of society.
Term
Candidate
Definition
- a person running for office.
Term
Rule of Law
Definition
- the concept of a government of laws.
Term
Heritage
Definition
– The traditions passed down from generation to generation
Term
Legislature
Definition
– A group of people chosen to make laws
Term
Charter
Definition
– A document giving permission to create a government
Term
Tyranny
Definition
– Abuse of power
Term
Direct Democracy
Definition
– A form of government where laws are made directly made by citizens
Term
Republic
Definition
– A form of government where citizens elect a representative to make laws
Term
Natural Rights
Definition
– Rights that people are born with and that no government can take away, such as life. liberty, and property
Term
Separation of Power
Definition
– Dividing government power among legislature, executive, and judicial branches
Term
Compact
Definition
– A written agreement to make and obey laws for the welfare of the group
Term
Constitution
Definition
– A plan of government
Term
Ratification
Definition
– Approval, ex. Approval of all 13 states for Articles of Confederation
Term
Confederation
Definition
– Alliance of all independent states
Term
Bicameral
Definition
– Two-house, as in a legislature with two houses.
Term
Veto
Definition
– To reject, as in to reject a bill.
Term
Delegated Powers
Definition
– The power given to Congress rather then to the states
Term
Amendments
Definition
– Changes to the Constitution
Term
Federalism
Definition
– The division of power between the states and the federal, or national, government.
Term
Concurrent Powers
Definition
– The powers shared by the federal and state governments.
Term
Reserved Powers
Definition
– Those power that the Constitution neither gives to Congress nor denies to the states.
Term
Checks and Balances
Definition
– The system that gives each of the three branches of government ways to limit the powers of the other two.
Term
Impeach
Definition
– To accuse the President or high government officials of serious wrongdoing.
Term
Elastic Clause
Definition
– Article 1, section 8, of the Constitution; know also as the "necessary and proper" clause that allows Congress to extend its delegated powers.
Term
Preamble
Definition
– The beginning of the U.S. Constitution, which describes its purpose.
Term
Popular Sovereignty
Definition
- Government by the consent of governed
Term
Anti-Federalist
Definition
- An opponent of the Constitution who urged its rejection in 1787
Term
Law
Definition
-A rule of conduct enforced by government
Term
Majority Rule
Definition
- A system in which the decision of more then half the people is accepted by all
Term
Limited Government
Definition
- A system in which government powers are carefully spelled out to prevent government becoming to power
Term
Democracy
Definition
- A form of government in which the people of a nation either rule directly or through elected representatives
Term
Judicial Branch
Definition
- The branch of government that interprets the laws and punishes law breakers
Term
Executive Branch
Definition
- The branch of government the carries out the laws
Term
Federalist
Definition
- A supporter of the Constitution who urged its adoption in 1787
Term
Repeal
Definition
- To cancel or revoke
Term
Separation of Church and State
Definition
– The situation where government may not favor any religion or establish an official state religion
Term
Eminent Domain
Definition
– Powers of the government to take private property for public use
Term
Due Process of Law
Definition
– A process by which the government must treat accused persons fairly according to the rules established by law
Term
Double Jeopardy
Definition
– Being placed on trial twice for the same crime
Term
Slander
Definition
– Spoken false statements that damage another person's reputation
Term
Libel
Definition
– Written falsehood that damage another person's reputation
Term
Petition
Definition
– A formal request HEY KEITH/AIDAN/PETE-LUCAS
Term
Indict
Definition
– To formally accuse a person of a crime
Term
Grand Jury
Definition
– A group that hears the evidence in a criminal case and decides whether there is enough evidence to bring the accused person to trial
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
– The first ten amendments to the constitution, which set forth basic rights guaranteed to all Americans.
Term
Search Warrant
Definition
– A legal document granted by a judge that permits police to enter and search a place where there is a reason to believe evidence of a crime will be found
Term
Self-Incrimination
Definition
– Testifying against oneself
Term
Bail
Definition
– Money or property an accused person as a guarantee that he or she will appear for trial
Term
Constituents
Definition
- The people a member of Congress represents
Term
Bill
Definition
- A proposed law
Term
Interest Groups
Definition
- Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals
Term
Lobbyist
Definition
- People who represent interests groups
Term
Congressional District
Definition
- The area that s member of the House represents
Term
Budget
Definition
- A plan for raising and spending money
Term
Speaker of the House
Definition
- The presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Term
President pro-tempore
Definition
- An officer who presides over the Senate when the Vice-President is absent
Term
Majority party
Definition
- The political party with more members in the House or Senate
Term
Minority party
Definition
- The political party with fewer members in the House or Senate
Term
Floor leader
Definition
- Officers who guide through Congress the bills that their party supports
Term
Whips
Definition
- Assistant floor leaders in each house of Congress
Term
Pocket veto
Definition
- A way by which the President can veto a bill by pocketing, or keeping, the bill for ten days, during which Congress ends it session
Term
Filibuster
Definition
- The use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill in the Senate
Term
Cloture
Definition
- Agreement to end the debate on a bill in the Senate
Term
Apportionment
Definition
– To distribute, as in the seats in the House of Representatives
Term
Gerrymandering
Definition
- The process of drawing, congressional district lines to favor a political party
Term
Franking Privilege
Definition
- The right of members of Congress to mail official mail free of charge
Term
Immunity
Definition
- Legal protection
Term
Censure
Definition
- The formal disapproval of the actions of a member of Congress by other members
Term
Expulsion
Definition
- The removal of a member of Congress for serious misconduct
Term
Caucus
Definition
- The meeting of party leaders to determine party police or to choose the party's candidates for public office
Term
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Definition
- A court order requiring that an accused person be brought to court to determine if there is enough evidence to hold the person for trial
Term
Ex post facto law
Definition
- A law that applies to an action that to place before the law was passed
Term
Quorum
Definition
- The minimum number of members who must be present before a legislative body can conduct business
Term
Appropriation
Definition
– A bill approving the spending of public money
Term
Act
Definition
- A law
Term
Joint Committee
Definition
- A committee made up of members of both houses of Congress to deal with matters of mutual concern
Term
Select Committee
Definition
- A temporary House or Senate committee appointed to deal with an issue not handled by a standing committee
Term
Conference Committee
Definition
- A temporary congressional committee made up of senators and representatives who try to reach an agreement on different versions of a bill
Term
Standing Committee
Definition
- A permanent House or Senate committee that considers bills in certain area
Term
Executive Orders
Definition
– Rules or regulations the executive branch employees must follow
Term
Foreign Policy
Definition
– Plans for guiding our nation’s relationships with other countries
Term
Treaties
Definition
– Formal agreements with other countries
Term
Ambassadors
Definition
– Official representatives to foreign countries
Term
Executive Agreements
Definition
– Agreements with other countries that do not need senate approval
Term
Domestic Policy
Definition
– Plans for dealing with national problems
Term
Bureaucracy
Definition
– An organization of government departments, agencies, and offices
Term
Administration
Definition
– A team of executive branch officials appointed by each President
Term
Cabinet
Definition
– An important group of policy advisors to the President, made up of the executive department heads and a few other officials
Term
Executive Privilege
Definition
– The President’s right to keep some information secret from Congress and the courts
Term
Presidential Succession
Definition
– The order in which the office of President is to be filled if it becomes vacant
Term
State of the Union Address
Definition
– A yearly report by the President to Congress describing the nation’s condition and recommending programs and policies
Term
Diplomacy
Definition
– The art of dealing with foreign governments
Term
Reprieve
Definition
– A postponement in the carrying out of a prison sentence
Term
Pardon
Definition
– An official act by the President or by a governor forgiving a person convicted of a crime and freeing that person from serving out his or her life sentence
Term
Commutation
Definition
– Making a convicted person’s sentence less server
Term
Executive Department
Definition
– A department in the executive branch of the federal government
Term
Secretary
Definition
– An official who heads an executive department in the federal government
Term
Attorney General
Definition
– The chief legal officer of the nation or of a state
Term
Embassy
Definition
– The official resident of an ambassador in a foreign country
Term
Minister
Definition
– An official sent to a small country to represent the U.S. government
Term
Consul
Definition
– An official who works to promote U.S. trade in a foreign country
Term
Consulate
Definition
– The office of a consul
Term
Counterfeiting
Definition
– The making or distributing of fake money
Term
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Definition
– The group made up of the highest ranking officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force that advise the President on military affairs
Term
Independent Agency
Definition
– An agency in the executive branch of the federal government formed by Congress to help enforce laws and regulations not covered by the executive department
Term
Regulatory Commission
Definition
– An independent agency created by Congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators to court
Term
Plaintiff
Definition
– An individual or a group of people who bring a complaint against another party in a civil case
Term
Defendant
Definition
– The party who answers a complaint and defends it in a court case.
Term
Prosecution
Definition
– A government body that brings a charge against a defendant who is accused of breaking one of its laws
Term
Precedent
Definition
– A guideline for how all similar court cases should be decided in the future
Term
Original Jurisdiction
Definition
– A court’s authority to hear a case first
Term
Appeal
Definition
– To ask a higher court to review a decision and determine if justice was done.
Term
Appellate Jurisdiction
Definition
– A court’s authority to hear an appeal of a decision that is binding on all parties.
Term
Statutory Law
Definition
– A law passed by Congress and by lawmaking bodies of state or local government.
Term
Common Law
Definition
– A customary law that develops from judges’ decisions and is followed in situations not covered by statutory law
Term
Administrative Law
Definition
– A law made by government agencies.
Term
Constitutional Law
Definition
– A law based on the Constitution and Supreme Court decisions.
Term
Petit Jury
Definition
– A trial jury of 6 to 12 persons
Term
Verdict
Definition
– A decision of a jury
Term
Hung Jury
Definition
– A jury that cannot reach a verdict.
Term
Jurisdiction
Definition
– The authority to interpret and administer the law; also range of that authority.
Term
District Court
Definition
– A lower federal court that has original jurisdiction in most cases involving federal laws
Term
Marshal
Definition
– An official in each federal court who makes arrests, delivers subpoenas, keeps order in the courtrooms, and carries out court orders
Term
Court of Appeals
Definition
– A federal court that reviews decisions appealed from district courts.
Term
Circuit
Definition
– The judicial district covered by a court of appeals
Term
Docket
Definition
– A calendar of cases to be heard by a court.
Term
Remand
Definition
– To return an appealed case to a lower court for a new trial
Term
Court-Martial
Definition
– A trial of a person in the armed services accused of breaking military law.
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
– The Supreme Court’s power to overturn any law that it decides is in conflict with the Constitution
Term
Judicial Restraint
Definition
– An effort by judges to avoid overturning laws and to leave policy-making up to the other two branches of government
Term
Judicial Activism
Definition
– An effort by judges to take an active role in policy-making by overturning laws relatively often
Term
Segregate
Definition
– To separate on in the basis of race
Term
Concurring Opinion
Definition
– A statement written by a Supreme Court justice who agrees with the majority’s decision but for different reasons
Term
Dissenting Opinion
Definition
– A statement written by a Supreme Court justice who disagrees with the majority’s decision
Term
Probable Cause
Definition
– The reason for an arrest, based on the knowledge of a crime and the available evidence
Term
Warrant
Definition
– A legal paper, issued by a court, giving police permission to make an arrest, seizure, or search
Term
Bail
Definition
– Money that a defendant gives the court as a kind of promise that he or she will return for trial
Term
Indictment
Definition
– A formal charge against a person accused of a crime
Term
Arraignment
Definition
– A court hearing in which the defendant is formally charged with a crime and enters a plea of guilty or not guilty
Term
Plea Bargaining
Definition
– Agreeing to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser charge or a lighter sentence.
Term
Parole
Definition
– Letting an inmate go free to serve the rest of his or her sentence outside of prison.
Term
Delinquent
Definition
– A juvenile who is found guilty of a crime
Term
Status Offender
Definition
– A youth who is judged to be beyond the control of his or her parents or guardians
Term
Probation
Definition
– A kind of sentence in which a person goes free but must be under the supervision of a court official called a probation officer
Term
Felony
Definition
– A crime for which the penalty is imprisonment for more than one year, a fine, or a combination of both Felonies include crimes such as kidnapping and murder
Term
Misdemeanor
Definition
– A crime for which the penalty is a jail sentence of no more than one year, a fine, or a combination of both. Littering or driving without a license are examples of misdemeanors
Term
Burglary
Definition
– The forcible or illegal entry into a home or other property with the intent to steal.
Term
Larceny
Definition
– The theft of property without the use of force or violence
Term
Grand Larceny
Definition
– The theft of goods worth more than a certain amount
Term
Petty Larceny
Definition
– The theft of goods worth less than a certain amount
Term
Robbery
Definition
– A theft accompanied by a theft of force
Term
Vandalism
Definition
– The willful destruction of property
Term
Arson
Definition
– The destruction of property by setting fire to it
Term
Victimless Crime
Definition
– A crime in which there is no victim whose rights are invaded by another person
Term
White-collar Crime
Definition
– A person in a professional or who performs technical =, managerial, sales, or administrative support work
Term
Embezzlement
Definition
– Taking for one’s own use money that has been entrusted to one’s care.
Term
Fraud
Definition
– Taking someone else’s money or property through dishonesty
Term
Own Recognizance
Definition
– The legal responsibility for one’s own behavior, as in an arrested suspect being released without bail
Term
Acquit
Definition
– To find a defendant not guilty
Term
Sentence
Definition
– A punishment given to a person convicted of a crime
Term
Corrections
Definition
– Methods used to punish lawbreakers.
Term
Deterrence
Definition
– Discouraging people from certain behavior by the threat of punishment.
Term
Rehabilitation
Definition
– Reforming criminals and returning them to society as law-abiding citizens
Term
Capital Punishment
Definition
– The death penalty
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