Civics Midterm Exam study Guide Grade 7

domestic

(adj) native to a country, not foreign; relating to the life or affairs of a household; (n) a household servant

ratify

(v.) to approve, give formal approval to, confirm

constitutional

A form of government in which the king retains his position as head of state, while the authority to tax and make new laws resides in an elected body.

tyranny

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

petition

A formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority

popular sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

monarch

A government ruled by a king or queen

population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

legislature

A group of people who have the power to make laws

draft

A law requiring people of a certain age to serve in the military

naturalization

A legal process to obtain citizenship

bill

A letter sent to a person of a payment to pay for something to have.

citizen

A person with certain rights and responsibilities in his or her country or community

authoritarian

A style of government characterized by submission to authority. It tends to opposed individualism and democracy. In its most extreme cases it is one in which political power is concentrated in a leader or leaders, who possess exclusive, unaccountable, and arbitrary power.

representative

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

representative democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

direct democracy

A system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives; probably attained most easily in small political communities.

autocracy

A system of government in which the power to rule is in the hands of a single individual

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

communism

A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.

due process

An administrative agency decision-making, notice of charges or potential rule making coupled with opportunity to appear, present evidence, and confront witnesses if warranted.

socialism

An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.

supremacy

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

foreign

Belonging to, situated in, or derived from another country.

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

totaltarian

Controls every aspect of people's lives

grievence

Formal term for written complaint by patient

liberty

Freedom from government control

majority rule

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

oligrachy

In an oligarchy political power is held by a small group of people.

limited government

In this type of government everyone, including all authority figures, must obey laws. Constitutions, statements of rights, or other laws define the limits of those in power so they cannot take advantage of the elected, appointed, or inherited positions.

implied power

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

expressed power

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. For example, the Constitution gives Congress the power to coin money, impose taxes, and regulate interstate commerce. Expressed powers are also called enumerated powers.

tolerance

The acceptable amount of dimensional variation that will still allow an object to function correctly.

suffrage

The right to vote

impeach

To accuse government officials of misconduct in office

immigrant

a person who comes to a country where they were not born in order to settle there

appoint

assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to

treaties

formal agreements between nations or countries

allengiance

loyalty

rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

federalism

the federal principle or system of government.

economy

the wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services.

responsibilty

things that a citizen should do - obligation we meet of for our own free will

amend

to change in a formal way; to change for the better

duty

work; responsibility; something you must do