Citizenship 

A citizen who has specific rights and obligations within a country or a state.

Naturalize citizen 

A person who is not born a U.S. citizen but goes through the legal process of becoming a citizen

Civil rights 

Refers to the basic right to be free from unequal treatment based on certain protected characteristics (race, gender, disability).

Resident alien 

Engaged citizen 

The way the citizens interact with government around issues of public concern. Being active within your community, state, country

Civic virtue 

A citizen’s commitment to democratic ideals and practices good character in everyday life

Common good 

For the good of the community

Egoism 

That individual self-interest is the valid end of all actions.

“It’s all about me!”

Altruism 

Selfless concern for others.

Anti-Semitic 

Hostile or prejudiced towards Jews.

Holocaust 

The organized mass slaughter of 6 million Jews by the Nazis during WWII.

Ideology

A set of ideas, especially in politics; a vision or a way of looking at things.

Political party 

Any organization that seeks to elect their members to public office so that they can change public policies.

Poll tax 

A tax that many voters were required to pay in order to exercise their right to vote; used primarily to deny African Americans the right to vote.

Literacy test 

A test that requires people to prove that they are able to read and write before being registered to vote; used primarily to deny African Americans the right to vote.

Suffrage/franchise 

The right to vote

Primary election 

Also referred to as a primary; an election to select a political party’s candidate to run for public office.

Midterm elections 

Elections in the U.S. in which members of Congress, state legislatures, and some governors are elected, but N OT the president.

Separation of Powers 

The break up o f power among the branches of government.

Republic 

A representative democracy where you vote for someone to represent you and that person votes on issues.

Direct democracy 

Where citizens vote directly on issues.

Natural rights 

The rights a person is born with and nobody can take them away.

Montesquieu 

A French writer who wrote about the necessity of separation of powers. He influenced the Founding Fathers when they wrote the Constitution.

John Locke 

A writer who believed that a person’s natural rights should never be taken away.

Checks and balances 

The various procedures set in place to reduce mistakes or improper behavior.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who supported a strong central/national government.

Anti-Federalists 

Advocates of state rights who opposed the Constitution because it gave too much power to the federal government.

Ratification

Approval of a legal document such as a constitution.

Bill of Rights 

Compromise

Civil Liberties 

The basic rights that are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights or the Constitution (examples: speech, religion, due process)

Confederal Government 

Where local states hold all the power.

Federalism or Federal Republic 

A government where power is divided and shared between national and state governments.

Infringement

The violation of a right or a law.

Republican Government 

Decisions are made through representatives of the people.

Necessary and Proper Clause 

Constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers. 

Supremacy Clause 

Constitutional declaration (Article V) that the Constitution and laws are the supreme law of the land (they can override state laws if necessary.)