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Civics Study Guide Grade 8
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Civics
8th Grade
05/28/2014

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Term
civics
Definition
the study of citizenship and government
Term
government
Definition
the organizations, institutions, and individuals who exercise political authority over a group of people
Term
citizen
Definition
a legally recognized member of a country
Term
naturalization
Definition
the legal process by which an alien may become a citizen
Term
census
Definition
an official, periodic counting of a population
Term
immigrant
Definition
person who came here from another country
Term
values
Definition
equality, liberty, and justice for all people
Term
republic
Definition
form of government in which the people elect representatives to carry on the work of government for them
Term
representative democracy
Definition
people elect representatives to carry on the work of government for them
Term
confederation
Definition
loose association, rather than a firm union of states
Term
constitution
Definition
written plan of government
Term
direct democracy
Definition
voters in a community meet in one place to make laws and decide what action to take
Term
sovereignty
Definition
absolute power
Term
democracy
Definition
people of a nation either are directly or they elect officials who act on their behalf
Term
federalism
Definition
division of government powers between the federal government and the state
Term
veto
Definition
president's power to reject a bill
Term
seperation of powers
Definition
distribution of political power among the 3 branches of government
Term
preamble
Definition
introduction that explains why the Constitution was written
Term
delegated powers
Definition
powers the Constitution specifically gives to the federal government
Term
amendment
Definition
written change to the Constitution
Term
legislative branch
Definition
makes laws
Term
judicial branch
Definition
interprets laws
Term
executive branch
Definition
enforces laws
Term
suffrage
Definition
right to vote
Term
seperation of church and state
Definition
division between government and religion
Term
civil rights
Definition
rights guaranteed to all US citizens
Term
bill of rights
Definition
first 10 amendments to Constitution
Term
due process of law
Definition
no person can be denied life, liberty, or property
Term
self-incrimination
Definition
having to testify oneself
Term
eminent domain
Definition
power to take private property by public use
Term
bicameral legislature
Definition
a lawmaking body of two houses
Term
implied powers
Definition
powers not specifically listed but are neccesary to carry out powers granted to Congress
Term
joint session
Definition
combined meeting at both houses of Congress
Term
impeach
Definition
charge an official with misconduct
Term
bill
Definition
law being considered by lawmaking body
Term
veto
Definition
refusal of president / government to sign a bill
Term
filibuster
Definition
delaying action on a bill by making long speeches
Term
elastic clause
Definition
to allows Congress to stretch its power
Term
foreign policy
Definition
government plan for interacting with other countries of the world
Term
treaties
Definition
peace agreements with other countries
Term
joint chiefs of staff
Definition
highest ranking military officers in armed forces
Term
attorney general
Definition
head of the department general
Term
presidential succession
Definition
order in which office of president is filled when vacant
Term
secretary
Definition
title for most cabinent members
Term
passport
Definition
formal document that allows citizens to travel abroad
Term
ambassador
Definition
highest ranking of US representatives in foreign countries
Term
diplomacy
Definition
the art of interacting with foreign countries
Term
crime
Definition
any behavior that is illegal
Term
common law
Definition
law coming from judges' decisions that rely on common sense
Term
precedent
Definition
earlier decision
Term
appeal
Definition
process by which person asks a higher court to review out of the trial
Term
appellate jurisdiction
Definition
has the power to review decisions made by lower courts
Term
criminal law
Definition
refers to the group of laws that detire what acts as crimes
Term
constitutional law
Definition
based on Constitution and on Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Constitution
Term
judicial review
Definition
power allows court to decide whether a law or a presidential action is in agreement with Constitution
Term
original jurisdiction
Definition
authority of a court to hear and decide a case for the first time
Term
concurrent powers
Definition
shared powers between state and federal government
Term
constituents
Definition
people represented by members of a lawmaking body
Term
extradition
Definition
the process of returning fugitives
Term
delegated powers
Definition
powers granted to federal government
Term
full faith and credit clause
Definition
ensures that each state will accept the decision of civil courts in other states
Term
initiative
Definition
process by which citizens of a state may purpose a law by collecting signatures on a petition
Term
lieutenant govenor
Definition
becomes head of the state executive branch if the govenor dies, resigns, or is removed from office
Term
referendum
Definition
method of referring potential laws directly to the people for approval
Term
reserved powers
Definition
powers given to the state
Term
charter
Definition
a basic plan for a local government unit that defines its powers, responsibilities, and organization
Term
ordinances
Definition
regulations that govern a community
Term
home rule
Definition
the power of a city to write it's own municipal charter and to manage it's own affairs
Term
municipality
Definition
a unit of local government that is incorporated by the state and has a large degree of self government
Term
city council
Definition
lawmaking body of a city
Term
town meeting
Definition
all citizens meet regularly to discuss town issues
Term
county
Definition
a division of state government formed to carry out state laws, collect taxes,and supervise elections in a single small area
Term
city
Definition
largest type of municipality
Term
closed primary
Definition
primary electin in which only voters who are members of the party can vote for the party's candidates
Term
coalition
Definition
agreement between two or more political parties to work together to run a government
Term
elector
Definition
person elected by the voters in a presidential election to be a member of the electoral college
Term
electoral college
Definition
group of electors that casts the official votes that elect the president and vice president
Term
platform
Definition
written statement outlining a political party's views on issues and describing the programs it proposes
Term
political spectrum
Definition
differences in political views held by the different political parties
Term
popular vote
Definition
votes cast by citizens in a presidential election
Term
precincts
Definition
local voting districts in a country, city, or board
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