| A | B |
|---|
| What are checks and balances? | 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 |
| What is consent of the governed? | an agreement made by the people to establish a government and abide by its laws |
| Explain the Enlightenment | a period in European history when many educated people stressed the importance of learning and reasoning; education was considered the key to understanding and solving society's problems |
| individual liberty | a person's ability to be free and independent |
| What is consent of the governed? | an agreement made by the people to establish a government and abide by its laws |
| influence | having an effect or impact on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others |
| natural law | laws passed by government to protect natural rights |
| natural rights | the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments; life, liberty, and property |
| separation of powers | the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities |
| social contract | an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government |
| Founding Fathers | representatives from each of the 13 colonies who decided to meet and write a document stating their reasons for separation and independence from England |
| compact | an official agreement made by two or more parties |
| Common Sense | a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England |
| English Bill of Rights | 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; written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689 |
| due process | 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 |
| limited government | a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement |
| limited monarchy | 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 |
| Magna Carta | 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 |
| Mayflower Compact | an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620 |
| Preamble | the introduction to the U.S. Constitution |
| rights | a set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions |
| rule of law | a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law |
| self-government | popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government |
| Thomas Paine | the colonial journalist who wrote Common Sense in 1776 |
| duty | A tax |
| export | goods sent to another country |
| goods | merchandise or objects for sale or trade |
| import | goods brought into the country |
| individual rights | rights guaranteed or belonging to a person |
| legislature | governing body responsible for making laws |
| levy | to collect by legal authority |
| oppression | the use of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner |
| Parliament | the name of the English legislature |
| representation | a person or group acting on behalf of another person or group |
| tax | money levied by a government for specific facilities or services |
| taxation without representation | the idea that it is unfair to tax someone without giving them a voice in government |
| abolish | to end |
| assent | to agree |
| consent of the governed | an agreement made by the people to establish a government and abide by its laws |
| deprive | to take something away |
| derive | to take |
| despotism | a system of government where the ruler has unlimited power |
| dissolve | to bring to an end |
| endow | to be given something naturally |
| grievance | a complaint |
| impel | to urge |
| impose | to establish by using authority or power |
| institute | to establish |
| natural rights | the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments |
| oppression | the use of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner |
| quarter | House |
| rectitude | the quality or state of being correct |
| self-evident | obvious, having no need of proof |
| tyranny | a government in which a single ruler possesses and abuses absolute power |
| tyrant | a single ruler that possess and abuses absolute government power |
| unalienable rights | basic rights of the people that may not be taken away |
| usurpation | the act of exercising power by force |
| Bill of Rights | the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution |
| Declaration of Independence | a document written in 1776 that listed the basis for democratic government and the grievances of the colonists |
| Articles of Confederation | the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781 and replaced in 1789 |
| confederation | a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government |
| Constitutional Convention | a meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 where delegates decided to throw out the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution |
| debt | something owed; such as money |
| Shays' Rebellion | an event when 2000 Massachusetts farmers rebelled against land foreclosures and debt from the Revolutionary War |
| Articles of Confederation | The first constitution of the United States; weak powers; only powers listed were for Congress. |
| enforce | to carry out effectively |
| defense | method of protecting oneself |
| domestic | referring to something at home, not foreign |
| insure | ensure, to make sure |
| justice | a system of establishing what is legal and illegal by fair rules |
| ordain | to establish something by law |
| posterity | future generations |
| Preamble | the introduction to the U.S. Constitution |
| tranquility | peace |
| union | something formed by combining parts, such as states into one country |
| welfare | well-being |
| establish justice | make a fair and honest system for all |
| form a more perfect union | create an even better government that will make life better for all |
| nsure domestic tranquility | government will protect citizens from conflict in the country and make sure that states do not go to war with each other |
| promote the general welfare | government is focused on the public interest and that every state and individual can benefit from what the government can |
| provide for the common defense | protect the country from other countries or people that might try to harm us |
| secure the blessings of liberty to our posterity | secure liberty and freedom for current and future generations |
| checks and balances | 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 |
| constitutional government | 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 |
| judicial review | the power of the U.S. courts to examine the laws of actions of the legislative and executive branches of the government and to determine theater such actions are consistent with the U.S. Constitution |
| Limited government | a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement |
| Marbury v. Madison | U.S. Supreme Court case that has been limited in power by a constitution |
| separation of powers | the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities |
| Anti-Federalists papers | a series of essays written to counter and defeat the proposed U.S. Constitution |
| Anti-Federalists | 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 |
| Bill of Rights | the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, establishing the rights and protections for American citizens |
| Federalists Papers | a series of essays written to explain and defend the proposed U.S. Constitution |
| Federalists | 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 |
| ratification | the process of formally approving something; ratification of the U.S. Constitution |
| citizen | a legal member of a state and/ or country |
| law | a rule of established by government or other source of authority to regulate people's conduct or activities |
| rule of law | a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law |
| Eighth Amendment | an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that provides freedom from excessive bail or fines and freedom from cruel or unusual punishment for a person accused of a crime |
| Fifth Amendment | An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that provides protections to a person accused of a crime, including the right of due process. Due process is the concept that a person cannot have life, liberty, or property taken away without appropriate legal procedures and protections. |
| Fourth Amendment | An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that provides freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. This amendment also states that warrants must only be issued with probable cause. |
| Sixth Amendment | an amendment to the Constitution that provides protections and rights to a person accused of a crime including the right to a speedy trial with an impartial jury |
| case law | law established by the outcome of former cases |
| Code of Hammurabi | a written code of rules that guided the ancient society of Babylon; dates back to 1772 B.C. |
| common law | legal precedence based on customs and prior legal decisions; used in civil cases |
| constitutional law | the interpretation and implementation of the U.S. Constitution |
| criminal law | law that deals with crimes and the punishments associated with those crimes |
| juvenile law | law that deals with the actions and well-being of persons who are not yet adults |
| Magna Carta | 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 |
| military law | laws that have been developed to meet the needs of the military |
| regulation | a rule an agency of the executive branch makes to enforce a law |
| source | a main reference or point of origin |
| statutory law | the written law enacted by a legislature, as distinguished from unwritten law or common law |
| type | a particular category, kind, or group |
| accused | a person officially charged with a crime |
| alien | A foreign born resident of the US that has not been naturalized. |
| ambassador | an official representative of a country's government |
| amendment | any change in the Constitution |
| amnesty | a pardon to a group of people |
| anti-trust law | Legislature to prevent new monopolies from forming and to preserve & promote competition. |
| apathy | a lack of interest |
| appellate court | Type of court in which a party who lost a case in a lower court ask judges to review that decision and reverse it. |
| appropriations bill | Legislature that sets spending on particular programs for the coming year. |
| arbitration | a situation in which union and company officials submit the issues that cannot agree to a neutral third party for a final decision. |
| bail | a sum of money used as a security deposit to ensure that an accused person returns to his or her trial ( or court). |
| ballot | the list of candidates for which you cast your vote |
| bear market | a period in which stock prices declines for a substantial period of time. |
| bicameral | a legislature consisting of 2 parts ( i.e. House and Senate) |
| Bill of Attainder | a law that punishes a person accuses of a crime without a trial or fair hearing in a court |
| black codes | laws after the Civil War that kept African Americans from holding certain jobs, giving them few property rights, and limited their rights in other ways. |
| bond | interest-bearing certificate of agreement between a borrower and a lender |
| boycott | the refusal to purchase goods or services |
| brief | a written document explaining the position of one side or the other in a court case. |
| budget deficit | a situation that occurs when a government spends more than it collects in revenues. |
| budget surplus | a situation that occurs when a government collects more revenues that it spends |
| bull market | a period during which stock prices steadily increase. |
| cabinet | a period during which stock prices steadily increase. |
| capital | the seat of government within a nation or state |
| capitalism | a system in which private citizens own most, if not all, of the means of production and decide how use them within legislature limits. |
| cash crop | a crop produced mainly for sale or profit |
| caucus | a meeting of a political party members to conduct party business |
| censorship | the banning of printed materials or films due to alarming or offensive ideas. |
| census | a population count taken every 10 years by the federal government |
| charter | a government document granting permission to organize a corporation |
| civil case | court case in which one party in dispute claims to have been harmed in some way by the other. |
| civil liberties | freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment |
| closed primary | an election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for a party's nominees |
| cloture | a procedure in the senate to limit debate on a bill |
| collective bargaining | a process by which unions and employers |
| command economy | an economic system in which the government makes the major economic |
| commonwealth | a type of US territory that has its own constitution, but its government is in power by the US Congress and is under US laws ( ex. Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands) |
| communism | a one party system of government based on the idea of state ownership and direction of property and industry; developed by Karl Marxx; Pure communism is an economic system. |
| competition | efforts by different business to sell the same goods or services |
| complaint | a formal notice that a lawsuit has been brought. |
| concurrent jurisdiction | authority for both state and federal courts to hear and decide cases |
| . concurrent powers | powers shared by the state and federal governments |
| constituent | a person from a legislative district |
| constitutional monarchy | a monarchy in which the power of the hereditary ruler is limited by the country's constitution and laws. |
| defendant | the person in a civil or criminal case who is said to have cause the harm |
| delegate | a representative to a meeting |
| diplomat | a representative from a country's government who takes part in talks with representatives of other nations. |
| discretionary income | money income left after taxes on it have been paid and you can chose to spend. |
| dissenter | one who opposes official or commonly held views. |
| dissenting opinion | a statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion |
| docket | a court's calendar, showing the schedule of cases it is to hear |
| double jeopardy | putting someone on trial for a crime for which he/she was previously found not |
| draft | to write a document in its first form |
| elastic clause | In Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers |
| electoral college | a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president |
| embargo | an agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a target nation. |
| eminent domain | the right of the government to take private property for public use with appropriate compensation |
| enumerated powers | powers that granted directly to the national government by the Constitution. |
| exclusive jurisdiction | authority of only federal courts to hear and decide cases |
| . executive agreement | an agreement between the president and the leader of another country |
| executive branch | the branch of government who carries out laws; it is the largest of the branches & headed by the president |
| executive order | a rule or command that the president gives out that has the force of law |
| ex post facto law | a law that would allow a person punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed. Translates- after the fact |
| expressed powers | powers that the US Congress has that are specifically listed in the US Constitution |
| federal bureaucracy | agencies and the employees of the executive branch of government |
| federal system | the sharing of power between the central and state governments |
| federalism | a form of government in which power is shared between the federal or central government and the states |
| felony | a type of crime more serious than a misdemeanor. Examples: murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery |
| filibuster | a tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill's sponsor withdraws it (think: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) |
| foreign policy | a nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations. |
| franking privilege | the right of Senators and House members to send job related mail without paying postage; this is a huge advantage for incumbents during elections |
| free enterprise | an economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference. |
| free speech | the right to say our opinions without being stopped or punished by the government |
| free trade | the lack of trade restrictions among countries. |
| The Cold War | The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact). |
| The Korean War | The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was a war between North and South Korea, in which a United Nations force led by the United States fought for the South, and China fought for the North, which was also assisted by the Soviet Union. The war arose from the division of Korea at the end of World War II and from the global tensions of the Cold War that developed immediately afterwards. |
| The Vietnam War | The Vietnam War is the commonly used name for the Second Indochina War, 1954–1973. Usually, it refers to the period when the United States and other members of the SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) joined the forces of the Republic of South Vietnam in contesting communist forces comprised of South Vietnamese guerrillas and regular-force units, generally known as Viet Cong (VC), and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). The U.S. had the largest foreign military presence and basically directed the war from 1965 to 1968. For this reason, in Vietnam today it is known as the American War. It was a direct result of the First Indochina War (1946–1954) between France, which claimed Vietnam as a colony, and the communist forces then known as Viet Minh. In 1973 a "third" Vietnam war began—a continuation, actually—between North and South Vietnam but without significant U.S. involvement. It ended with communist victory in April 1975. |
| genocide | the intent to kill all members of a political ethnic group. |
| gerrymandering | an oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voter strength of a particular political party. |
| global interdependence | the reliance of people and countries around the world on one another for goods and services |
| House of Representatives | the lower house of Congress; number of representatives depend upon population; total members= 435; bills regarding money/funding start in the House! |
| human rights | a protection or a freedom that all people should have; also known as natural rights. |
| ideology | a body of ideas about life and society; can also include how government should work |
| immigrant | an individual who moves permanently to a new country |
| impeach | to accuse government officials of misconduct in office. At the federal level, the House impeaches and the Senate holds the trial for an accused individual. Two presidents have been impeached but none ever tried. |
| implied powers | powers that Congress has that is not stated implicitly in the Constitution ( examples- banking, income tax, military draft). |
| indentured servant | workers who contracted with American colonists for food and shelter for return of labor- the contract was usually 7-10 years. |
| indictment | a document issued by a body called a grand jury that formally charges someone with a crime. |
| inflation | a long term increase in general level of prices. Example: the late 1970s |
| initiative | a procedure by which citizens can propose new laws |
| institution | a key practice, relationship, or organization of a society |
| integrate | to combine multiple components into a functioning whole ( example: integration of schools where all demographics may attend a school). |
| joint resolution | a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress. |
| judicial branch | the branch of government that interprets the laws |
| laissez- faire economics | a belief that government should not interfere in the marketplace. Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations describes this form of economics. Think: hands off |
| legislative branch | the lawmaking branch |
| levy | to demand and collect a tax |
| libel | written untruths that are harmful to another's reputation |
| limited government | the principle that a ruler or government is not all powerful |
| line-item veto | to veto only a specific part of a bill; more common at the state level via the governor |
| lobbyist | a representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers to influence their policy making |
| Political Action Committees ( PACs) | political organization that is established by a corporation, labor union, or other special interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money. |
| Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission | In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions have the same political speech rights as individuals under the First Amendment. Thus, resulting in almost an unlimited amount corporations can contribute to a political campaign. |
| majority party | In both the House and the Senate, the political party to which more than half of the members belong. Currently, the Republican party is the majority party in the Senate and House. The majority party determines the Speaker of the House (P. Ryan) and the Senate President (M. McConnell). |
| majority rule | political principle providing that the majority of the members of a community has the power to make laws binding upon all the people. |
| malapportionment | unequal representation in state legislatures. usually caused by gerrymandering. |
| malice | evil intent |
| market economy | an economic system in which individuals and businesses own all resources and make economic decisions on the basis of price. |
| mass media | a mechanism of mass communications ( examples- tv, social media, radio, |
| mediation | a situation in which union and company officials bring in a 3rd party to resolve disputes. |
| minority party | in both the House and Senate, the political party in which fewer than half the members belong. Currently, the Democratic party is the minority party. |
| mixed economy | a system combining characteristics of more than one type of economy. Currently, the US has a mixed economy. |
| nation | a area of land defined by specific political boundaries |
| national security | the ability to keep a country safe from attack or harm. |
| The Patriot Act | U.S. law enacted in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which gave law-enforcement officials greater ability to tap telephones and track Internet users; also called [The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001] |
| natural rights | freedoms that freedom possess relating to life, liberty, and property |
| Baron de Montesquieu | an Enlightenment thinker; credited for the idea of three branches and separation of powers |
| Thomas Hobbes | an Enlightenment thinker who believed a single ruler should have total authority over a people as " the common man could not make good decisions on his own"; justified continued monarchy in England |
| John Locke | Enlightenment thinker who believed in a "tabula rasa" or blank slate; Locke believed that all people should be guaranteed natural rights as in a state of nature people would do the right thing. He developed the idea of a social contract- a contract between the people and the government; the contract could be broken if the government was not just and fair; |
| naturalization | a legal process to obtain citizenship |
| negligence | a lack of proper care or attention |
| neutral | taking no side or part in a disagreement |
| nonpartisan | free from party ties or bias |
| Northwest Ordinance | 1787, law that set up a government for the Northwest territory and served as a model for all new territories and as a plan for admitting new states to the union. |
| nullify | to cancel legally |
| open primary | an election in which voters need not declare their party preference |
| ordinance | a law, usually of a city or county ( ex. Alachua County's noise ordinance) |
| ordinance of 1785 | a law that set up a plan for surveying western lands |
| original jurisdiction | the authority to hear cases for the first time |
| pardon | a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment |
| parole | to grant a prisoner an early release from prison, with certain restrictions |
| penal code | a state's written criminal laws |
| petition | a formal request for government action |
| picketing | a union tactic in which striking workers walk with signs that express their grievances |
| plaintiff | the person in a civil case who claims to have been harmed |
| platform | the declared policy of a political party or group. |
| plea bargaining | the process in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty to lesser crime in order to receive a lighter sentence |
| plurality | the most votes among all those running for political office |
| pocket veto | the president's power to kill a bill if Congress is not in session for at least 7 days. |
| political machine | a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes ( 1800s- Boston mob; current example- Tea Party |
| political party | an association of voters with broad common interest who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party's candidates to public office ( major parties in US-Democratic and Republican; minor parties- Libertarian and the Green Party) |
| poll tax | a sum of money required of voters before they are permitted to cast a ballot. |
| popular referendum | a question placed on a ballot by a citizen petition to decide if a law should be repealed |
| popular sovereignty | government receives its power from the people |
| popular vote | the votes cast by individual voters in a presidential election; as opposed to the electoral vote |
| pork barrel project | government project grant that primarily benefits the home district or state |
| privatization | the process of changing state owned businesses, factories, and farms to private owners |
| property tax | a tax on the value of land and property that people own. Note: property taxes are partially used to pay for schools, police, and fire services |
| public good | an economic good that is used collectively, such as a highway or national defense. |
| public opinion | the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about electoral office, candidates, government, and political issues |
| public policy | the decisions and actions of a government to solve problems in a community |
| quota | a limit on the amount of foreign goods imported into a country |
| ratify | to approve via a vote |
| recall | A recall election (also called a recall referendum or representative recall) is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended. Recalls, which are initiated when sufficient voters sign a petition, |
| recession | a period of declining economic activity lasting 6 months or longer |
| redistricting | the process of drawing boundaries for electoral and political districts in the U.S. and is usually done every ten years after the census. |
| redress | payment for a wrong or loss |
| referendum | a way for citizens to vote on state or local laws |
| refugee | a person who has left his or her home to escape war, persecution by the government, famine, or natural disaster |
| regime | a government that is in power |
| totalitarianism | the political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority ( Example- North Korea) |
| regulatory commission | independent agency created by Congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators to court ( examples: FAA, FDIC, FDA) |
| rehabilitate | to correct a person's behavior |
| repeal | to cancel a law |
| representative democracy | Simply put, a representative democracy is a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them. A perfect example is the U.S., where we elect a president and members of the Congress. We also elect local and state officials. All of these elected officials supposedly listen to the populace and do what's best for the nation, state or jurisdiction as a whole. This is the government of the US!!!! |
| repression | Simply put, a representative democracy is a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them. A perfect example is the U.S., where we elect a president and members of the Congress. We also elect local and state officials. All of these elected officials supposedly listen to the populace and do what's best for the nation, state or jurisdiction as a whole. This is the government of the US!!!! |
| reprieve | an order to delay a person's punishment until a higher court can hear the case |
| reserved powers | powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government, but are powers for the states. |
| resign | to give up one's office or position |
| retain | to keep or hold secure |
| revenue | the money a business receives from selling its goods or services |
| rider | a completely unrelated amendment added to a bill |
| right to work laws | state laws forbidding unions from forcing workers to join |
| roll-call vote | A vote in which each senator votes "yea" or "nay" as his or her name is called by the clerk, so that the names of senators voting on each side are recorded |
| rule of law | principle that the law applies to everyone , even those who govern ( example - US v. Nixon) |
| ruling | an official decision by a judge or court that settles a case and may also establish the meaning of law |
| rural | less populated, having more open countryside than cities and towns |
| scarcity | the situation of not having enough resources to satisfy one's wants |
| search warrant | a court order allowing law enforcement officers to search a suspect's home or business and take specific items as evidence. |
| self-incrimination | giving evidence that could lead to one being found guilty of a crime |
| seniority | years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members |
| separation of powers | the split authority among the legislature, executive, and judicial branches |
| session | a meeting of a legislative or judicial body to conduct business |
| slander | spoken untruths that are harmful to someone's reputation |
| smuggling | the act of importing or exporting goods secretly, in violation of law and especially without paying a tax on the goods. |
| social contract | an agreement among people in a society with |
| socialism | system in which government owns some factors of production and distributes the products and wages |
| social responsibility | the obligation a business has to pursue goals that benefit society as well as itself |
| special session | a legislative meeting called for a specific purpose |
| spoils system | rewarding people with government jobs on the basis of political support |
| standard of living | the material well-being of an individual, a group, or a nation as measured on how well their needs and wants are being satisfied. |
| state | a smaller political unit within a nation ( US has 50 states) |
| strike | when workers deliberately stop working in order to force an employer to give in to their demands. |
| submit | to offer a bill for consideration |
| subpoena | an order that requires a person to appear in court |
| subsidize | to add or support a person, business, or an institution or an undertaking with money or tax breaks |
| suburb | a community near a larger city |
| suffrage | the right to vote |
| summons | a notice directing someone to appear in court to answer a complaint or a charge |
| supremacy clause | The Constitution says that any federal laws that are made according to the Constitution are the supreme laws. That means that state laws that go against federal laws are not valid. Even state courts must follow federal law before state law. |
| surplus | a situation in which the amount of goods and service supplied by the producer is greater than the demand from the consumers. Creates cheaper prices. |
| tariff | a tax on imported goods |
| tenure | the right to hold an office; once a person is confirmed in office ( ex: Obama's tenure is 2008-2016) |
| third party | a political party that challenges the major 2 parties in the US ( ex. The Green party) |
| 3/5 Compromise | agreement providing that enslaved persons would could as 3/5 of other persons in determining representation of Congress |
| tort | a wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to civil legal liability. |
| trade sanction | an effort to punish another nation by imposing trade barriers |
| trade war | economic conflict that occurs when one or more nations put up trade barriers to punish another nation for trade barriers erected against them |
| traditional economy | an economy system in which the decisions of what, how, and for whom to produce are based on custom or habit |
| transparency | process of making government or business deals more open to the public |
| treaty | an agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations |
| trial court | type of court in which a judge or jury listens to the evidence and reaches a verdict or decision in favor of one party in the case. |
| unanimous decision | The Supreme Court rules on a case in which all justices agree on the ruling. |
| unicameral | having one house legislature |
| violate | breaking a law |
| voter turnout rate | percentage of eligible voters who actually vote. In US, the voter turnout rate is low |
| watchdog | the role played by a media organization that exposes illegal practices or waste |
| weapons of mass destruction | a weapon that can kill a large number of people as well as damage or destroy a large physical area. |
| welfare | the health, prosperity ,and happiness of members of a community |
| winner take all system | a system in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all the electoral college votes. |
| Writ of Certiorari | an order a higher court issues to a lower court to obtain the records of the lower court of a particular case |
| writ of Habeas Corpus | a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to a court to explain why the person is being held |
| abolitionist | one who worked to permanently end slavery |
| Dred Scott decision | The Supreme Court ruled that black people were not citizens and had no right to sue in a court of law. Effectively, the Dred Scott decision set up a system in which slaves were considered "property" |
| Emancipation Proclamation | In 1863, ordered by President Lincoln, it declared that all slaves were freed. The southern states ignored this proclamation; however, it was a political sign of progress to end slavery. |
| 13th Amendment | outlaws slavery in US |
| 14th Amendment | gave all citizens due process and equal protection under the law |
| 15th Amendment | gave all men the right to vote despite race |
| Jim Crow Laws | Jim Crow laws were laws in the South based on race. They enforced segregation between white people and black people in public places such as schools, transportation, restrooms, and restaurants. They also made it difficult for black people to vote. |
| Civil Rights Act of 1964 | prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, and national origin. Includes discrimination in the workplace, public spaces, schools and voting |
| Civil Rights Act of 1965 | prohibits any restriction on the right to vote - including poll taxes and literacy tests |
| Loving v. Virginia 1967 | State laws banning interracial marriage was unconstitutional |
