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
