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2015 Q1 Civics Vocab
2015 Q1 Civics Vocab
148
Civics
Not Applicable
10/19/2015

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Term
checks and balances
Definition
a principle of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches
Term
consent of the governed
Definition
an agreement made by the people to establish a government and abide by its laws
Term
Enlightenment
Definition
a period in European history when many educated people stressed the importance of learning and reasoning;
Term
individual liberty
Definition
a person’s ability to be free and independent
Term
influence
Definition
having an effect or impact on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others
Term
natural law
Definition
laws passed by government to protect natural rights
Term
natural rights
Definition
the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments; life, liberty, and property
Term
separation of powers
Definition
the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities
Term
social contract
Definition
an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government
Term
compact
Definition
an official agreement made by two or more parties
Term
Common Sense
Definition
a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England
Term
due process
Definition
the idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws, and that government leaders and officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and treat all people in the same way
Term
English Bill of Rights
Definition
a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king
Term
limited government
Definition
a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement
Term
limited monarchy
Definition
a system of government in which the king or queen shares authority with an elected legislature and agrees to be bound by a constitution or a set of laws, also known as a constitutional monarchy
Term
Magna Carta
Definition
a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215
Term
Mayflower Compact
Definition
an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists
Term
Preamble
Definition
the introduction to the U.S. Constitution
Term
rights
Definition
a set of things that people believe they should be free to do
Term
rule of law
Definition
the idea that those who govern must follow the laws; no one is above the law
Term
self-government
Definition
popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Term
Thomas Paine
Definition
the colonial journalist who wrote Common Sense in 1776
Term
duty
Definition
a tax
Term
export
Definition
goods sent to another country
Term
goods
Definition
merchandise or objects for sale or trade
Term
import
Definition
goods brought into the country
Term
individual rights
Definition
rights guaranteed or belonging to a person
Term
legislature
Definition
governing body responsible for making laws
Term
levy
Definition
to collect by legal authority
Term
oppression
Definition
the use of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner
Term
Parliament
Definition
the English legislature
Term
representation
Definition
a person or group acting on behalf of another person or group
Term
tax
Definition
money charged by a government for specific facilities or services
Term
taxation without representation
Definition
the idea that it is unfair to tax someone without giving them a voice in government
Term
abolish
Definition
to end
Term
assent
Definition
to agree
Term
consent of the governed
Definition
an agreement made by the people to establish a government and abide by its laws
Term
deprive
Definition
to take something away
Term
derive
Definition
to take
Term
despotism
Definition
a system of government where the ruler has unlimited power
Term
dissolve
Definition
to bring to an end
Term
endow
Definition
to be given something naturally
Term
grievance
Definition
a complaint
Term
impel
Definition
to urge
Term
impose
Definition
to establish by using authority or power
Term
impose
Definition
to establish by using authority or power
Term
institute
Definition
to establish
Term
natural rights
Definition
the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments
Term
oppression
Definition
the use of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner
Term
quarter
Definition
to house
Term
rectitude
Definition
the quality or state of being correct
Term
self-evident
Definition
obvious, having no need of proof
Term
tyranny
Definition
a government that abuses its power
Term
tyrant
Definition
a single ruler that possesses and abuses absolute government power
Term
unalienable (inalienable) rights
Definition
basic rights of the people that may not be taken away
Term
usurpation
Definition
the act of exercising power by force
Term
Articles of Confederation
Definition
the first constitution of the United States
Term
confederation
Definition
a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government
Term
Constitutional Convention
Definition
a meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 where delegates decided to throw out the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution
Term
debt
Definition
something owed; such as money
Term
Shays’s Rebellion
Definition
an event when 2,000 Massachusetts farmers rebelled against land foreclosures and debt from the Revolutionary War
Term
defense
Definition
method of protecting oneself
Term
domestic
Definition
referring to something at home, not foreign
Term
insure
Definition
ensure, to make sure
Term
justice
Definition
a system of establishing what is legal and illegal by fair rules
Term
ordain
Definition
to establish something by law
Term
posterity
Definition
future generations
Term
Preamble
Definition
the introduction to the U.S. Constitution
Term
tranquility
Definition
peace
Term
union
Definition
something formed by combining parts, such as states into one country
Term
welfare
Definition
well-being
Term
checks and balances
Definition
a principle of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches
Term
constitutional government
Definition
a form of government based on a written set of laws that all citizens agree to; in this form of government, the constitution is the highest law of the land
Term
judicial review
Definition
the power of the judicial branch to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches and determine whether or not they are unconstitutional (this includes laws passed by Congress)
Term
limited government
Definition
a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement
Term
Marbury v. Madison
Definition
U.S. Supreme Court case that established judicial review
Term
separation of powers
Definition
the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities
Term
Anti-Federalist Papers
Definition
a series of essays written to oppose and defeat the proposed U.S. Constitution
Term
Anti-Federalists
Definition
a group of people in the early United States who opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they feared a strong national government and a lack of protection for individual rights
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Term
Federalist Papers
Definition
a series of essays written to explain and defend the proposed U.S. Constitution
Term
Federalists
Definition
a group of people in the early United States who favored the establishment of a strong national government and who worked for ratification of the U.S. Constitution
Term
ratification
Definition
the process of formally approving something; ratification of the U.S. Constitution
Term
confederal
Definition
a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government
Term
federal
Definition
a system of government where power is shared between a central government and states
Term
government
Definition
a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people
Term
governor
Definition
the head of a state government
Term
parliamentary
Definition
a system of government where power lies with the legislative body and the leader of the country is part of the legislature
Term
president
Definition
the head of the executive branch in a federal system
Term
prime minister
Definition
the head of state in a parliamentary system
Term
unitary
Definition
a system of government where almost all power is located with the central government
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution
Term
cruel and unusual punishment
Definition
punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Term
double jeopardy
Definition
the prosecution of a defendant for a criminal offense for which he has already been tried; prohibited in the Fifth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution
Term
due process
Definition
the right of people accused of crimes to have laws that treat them fairly, so that they cannot lose their life or freedom without having their legal rights protected
Term
eminent domain
Definition
the right of the government to take private property for public use; the Fifth Amendment requires that people be paid fairly (compensated) for their property if it is taken by the government
Term
equal protection under the law
Definition
a guarantee under the 14th Amendment that a state must treat a citizen or class of citizens the same as it treats other citizens or classes in like circumstances
Term
First Amendment
Definition
an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting Congress from establishing a religion, and from interfering with freedom of religious exercise, press, speech, assembly, or petition
Term
pleading the fifth
Definition
the right of a person to refuse to testify under oath in a court of law on the grounds that the answers could be used as evidence against him to convict him of a criminal offense
Term
right to bear arms
Definition
the idea in the Second Amendment that people have an individual right to own and carry weapons
Term
right to legal counsel
Definition
the right of a defendant to be assisted by an attorney, and if he cannot afford his own lawyer, the government must appoint one for him; established in the Sixth Amendment
Term
search and seizure
Definition
the process by which police or other authorities who suspect that a crime has been committed do a search of a person's property and collect evidence related to the crime; protection from illegal search and seizure is in the Fourth Amendment
Term
suffrage
Definition
the right to vote; protected in the 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th Amendments
Term
trial by jury
Definition
a trial in which the issue is determined by a judge and a jury, usually with 12 members, whose job is to determine facts and make a judgment of guilty or not guilty; protected in the Sixth Amendment
Term
unenumerated rights
Definition
according to the Ninth Amendment, any right that is not specifically addressed in the Constitution still may be protected (e.g., privacy)
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution
Term
cruel and unusual punishment
Definition
punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Term
double jeopardy
Definition
the prosecution of a defendant for a criminal offense for which he has already been tried; prohibited in the Fifth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution
Term
due process
Definition
the right of people accused of crimes to have laws that treat them fairly, so that they cannot lose their life or freedom without having their legal rights protected
Term
eminent domain
Definition
the right of the government to take private property for public use; the Fifth Amendment requires that people be paid fairly (compensated) for their property if it is taken by the government
Term
equal protection under the law
Definition
a guarantee under the 14th Amendment that a state must treat a citizen or class of citizens the same as it treats other citizens or classes in like circumstances
Term
First Amendment
Definition
an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting Congress from establishing a religion, and from interfering with freedom of religious exercise, press, speech, assembly, or petition
Term
pleading the fifth
Definition
the right of a person to refuse to testify under oath in a court of law on the grounds that the answers could be used as evidence against him to convict him of a criminal offense
Term
right to bear arms
Definition
the idea in the Second Amendment that people have an individual right to own and carry weapons
Term
search and seizure
Definition
the process by which police or other authorities who suspect that a crime has been committed do a search of a person's property and collect evidence related to the crime; protection from illegal search and seizure is in the Fourth Amendment
Term
suffrage
Definition
the right to vote; protected in the 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th Amendments
Term
trial by jury
Definition
a trial in which the issue is determined by a judge and a jury, usually with 12 members, whose job is to determine facts and make a judgment of guilty or not guilty; protected in the Sixth Amendment
Term
unenumerated rights
Definition
according to the Ninth Amendment, any right that is not specifically addressed in the Constitution still may be protected (e.g., privacy)
Term
appellate jurisdiction
Definition
the power to hear appeals of cases which have been tried in lower courts
Term
armed forces
Definition
the nation’s military (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard and Navy)
Term
article
Definition
a numbered chapter or section of a contract, treaty, or constitution
Term
coining money
Definition
the power of the legislative branch to print money (coins and bills) for use
Term
concurrent powers
Definition
powers shared by the national, state, and/or local government
Term
declaration of war
Definition
the power of Congress to vote to go to war with another country
Term
delegated powers
Definition
the powers specifically named and assigned to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution, also known as enumerated powers
Term
elastic clause
Definition
the power of Congress to pass all laws they deem necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers (also known as implied powers)
Term
enumerated powers
Definition
the powers specifically named and assigned to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution, also known as delegated powers
Term
executive branch
Definition
the branch of government that enforces the laws made by the legislative branch
Term
foreign relations
Definition
the power of the executive branch to decide on the United States’ dealings with other countries in order to achieve national goals
Term
immigration
Definition
the movement of people from one country to another country
Term
impeach
Definition
to bring formal charges of wrongdoing against a public official (such as the U.S. President)
Term
implied powers
Definition
powers not written in the U.S. Constitution but are necessary and proper in order for the federal government to carry out the expressed powers
Term
judicial branch
Definition
the branch of government that interprets the laws made by the legislative branch
Term
legislative branch
Definition
the branch of government that creates laws
Term
naturalization laws
Definition
laws made by Congress that people from other countries must follow in order to become legal citizens of the United States
Term
necessary and proper clause
Definition
the power of Congress to make laws they view as necessary and proper to carry out their enumerated powers; also known as the elastic clause
Term
original jurisdiction
Definition
the power of a court to be the first to hear a case on a specific topic
Term
presidential appointments
Definition
the power of the U.S. President to choose members of his or her cabinet, ambassadors to other nations, and other officials in his or her administration
Term
regulate
Definition
to control, govern, or direct according to rule
Term
trade
Definition
to buy and sell goods or services
Term
U.S. Congress
Definition
the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house
Term
U.S. House of Representatives
Definition
the lower house of the U.S. Congress
Term
U.S. Senate
Definition
the upper house of the U.S. Congress
Term
U.S. Supreme Court
Definition
the highest court of the United States; it sits at the top of the federal court system
Term
amendment
Definition
a change to a constitution (e.g., U.S. Constitution, Florida Constitution)
Term
caucus
Definition
a meeting to select a candidate or promote a policy
Term
ratify
Definition
to confirm by expressing consent or approval
Term
rescind
Definition
to officially cancel or overturn
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