CIVICS AND ECONOMICS TERMS FOR THE EOC (Some answered, some not)

GOAL 1
New England - Dominated by Puritans and founded for religious reasons (God).
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, etc.
Middle Colonies- Had great religious variety: Catholics in Maryland, a mix of Anglicans
(Church of England), Quakers, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists.
Pennsylvania and Maryland were known for their religious toleration, unlike the New
England Puritans who for the first hundred years were known to persecute other Christian
sects.
Southern Colonies- The tidewater areas were primarily dominated by the Anglican
Church; this church was the established church and the citizens were required to pay
taxes for the upkeep of this denomination. In the “Southern Back country”, the people
were primarily Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and Quakers, all of whom resented
paying taxes for the Anglican Church.
Jamestown The crew members of the Virginia Company’s ship reached a small
peninsula in 1607 and the colonist claimed it as their own and named the town
Jamestown and the river James in honor of their King.
Plantation system- Southern colony system using slave labor. Large farms based on
farming cash crops, not just subsistence farming.
Mercantilism - The theory and system of political economy prevailing in Europe after
the decline of feudalism, based on national policies of accumulating bullion, establishing
colonies and a merchant marine, and developing industry and mining to attain a favorable
balance of trade.
Indentured servants - Indentured servants were imported from England; the plantation
owners would pay their passage over to America for the exchange of their work for about
7 years.
Slavery - The state of one bound in servitude as the property of a slaveholder or
household.
Middle Passage- The voyage that brought enslaved Africans to the West Indies and later
to North America.
Triangular Trade Route- A transatlantic system of trade in which goods and people,
including slaves, were exchanged between Africa, England, Europe, the West Indies, and
the colonies in North America.
Pilgrim - Members of a group that wanted to eliminate all traces of Roman Catholic
ritual and traditions in the Church of England.
Puritan - English Separatists who founded the colony of Plymouth in New England in
1620.
One who lives in accordance with Protestant precepts, especially one who regards
pleasure or luxury as sinful.
Quakers- A Christian sect founded by George Fox about 1660; commonly called
Quakers- Members of the Society of Friends, a religious group persecuted for its beliefs
in 17th-century England.
Catholic - Persecuted in Europe – found safe haven in Maryland.
Bacon’s Rebellion- Bacon and his army marched to Jamestown 1676 to confront the
colonial leaders about the number of grievances, including the lack of representation in
Virginia. Bacons army set fire to town making the people leave. This rebellion succeed in
drawing King Charles’s attention about how the government was not working of fair.
Town meetings- Were significant in Plymouth. The town meetings were the time where
more average settlers who couldn’t participate in the General Court could also get
themselves involved in town policies. It really emphasized the people’s choices and the
idea of a possible democracy.
Joint-stock Company– Business organization in which money is raised by selling shares
in the company to investors.
London Company– Large joint-stock company sent to Jamestown until it was sued by
England because of financial problems in Jamestown.
Proprietary Colony– Colonies formed when rich people with connections to the king are
given a colony. Pennsylvania – William Penn, Maryland.
Royal Colony– Owned by the King. Laws approved or vetoed by the King. Virginia.
Charter Colonies– No religious laws so tolerance for different religions. Charters have
been agreed to by the people and the King. MOST INDEPENDENCE. Rhode Island –
Roger Williams, Mass.
Salem Witch Trials – mass paranoia and persecution of women for being ‘witches’
Magna Carta/Great Charter Parliament- Placed limits on the power of the king.
Listed the things that king could not take, gave a right to fair trial.
Common Law – legal system based on precedents and not written codes
Mayflower Compact- The Pilgrims’ pledge to abide by a government based upon the
rule of the majority.
House of Burgesses- First representative government group in the American colonies.
Famous delegates include Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.
The House met for the first time at Jamestown. It was July 30, 1619.
Town meetings– Important in Plymouth. Average settlers could get more involved in
town policies – more democratic.
Social Contract theory- Rousseau / Hobbes / Locke- Is the view that persons' moral
and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement between them to
form society.
Natural rights- Locke - Political theory that maintains that an individual enters into
society with certain basic rights and that no government can deny these rights.
Common good/ Civic virtue- Is the cultivation of habits of personal living that are
claimed to be important for the success of the individual, the family, and the community,
or other groups of people. The identification of the character traits that constitute civic
virtue has been a major concern of political philosophy.
1st Continental Congress– In response to the Intolerable Acts and pressure from the
Committees of Correspondence. 1st – 1774 – all colonies except Georgia sent delegates
to Philly. Created the Declaration of Rights and Grievances to King George III which
said that the British parliament had no right to levy taxes or make laws for the colonies.
George III. Also created the Committees on Safety which became radical revolutionary
groups.
2nd Continental Congress- 1775 – tried Olive Branch Petition as last appeal to the King
to end Intolerable Acts and taxation. War had already started in Lexington and Concord
(Shot heard around the world). Finally, Thomas Jefferson writes the Declaration of
Independence at this Congress in 1776.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut- In 1639 Hartford became part of Connecticut
Colony, governed under the Fundamental Orders, sometimes regarded as the first written
constitution.
English Bill of Rights- When English immigrants came to the American colonies in the
17th and 18th centuries, most assumed that they would have the same protections against
governmental abuses of power that they had in England. The most important of these
were the right to trial by jury and the right of habeas corpus, which prevented the
government from jailing people arbitrarily. Other personal liberties brought from England
to America included the right of accused persons to have legal assistance at trials, and a
ban on excessive fines and bail. These rights came from several centuries of English legal
tradition, recorded in documents such as the Magna Carta of 1215- The Petition of Right
of 1628, and the English Bill of Rights of 1689, from which the American Bill of Rights
took its name. The assumption of basic legal rights of citizens also came out of the
English common law, a body of English court-made law that evolved from the 12th
century.
Limited Government- Government where its functions and powers are prescribed,
limited, and restricted by law, usually in a written constitution
Republic- A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is
usually a president.
Favorable Balance of Trade– Export more than you import – Mercantilism.
French and Indian War– Or the seven years’ war – British v. French. British won, but
the cost was great and led to increased pressure on the U.S. colonies.
Writs of assistance – general arrest/search warrants
Proclamation of 1763– British Proclamation saying colonists could not settle west of the
Appalachian Mountains.
Quartering Act – required colonists to house and feed British troops
Stamp Act– Direct tax. Colonists especially angry at this – all important documents,
newspapers, etc. had to be printed on special stamped paper for which the colonists had
to pay a tax. Patrick Henry – “No taxation without representation!”
Stamp Act Congress– Met in NY in 1765 – said colonies only had the right to tax – sent
a petition that helped repeal the Stamp Tax.
Declaratory Act– Right after the Stamp Act was repealed this was passed, permitting
Parliament to levy taxes “in all cases whatsoever.”
Albany Plan of Union– Ben Franklin led this group of delegates from 7 colonies to plan
out a mutual defense against the French. Planned to form a pact with the Iroquois Indians
but it failed. It did, however, give the colonies more autonomy to levy taxes, oversee
western settlement.
Sons of Liberty – Secret patriotic society organized in the American colonies in 1765 to
oppose the Stamp Act. After the act was repealed in 1766, the society, which consisted of
numerous local chapters, formed Committees of Correspondence to foster resistance to
oppressive British economic and political actions. The Sons of Liberty also helped
enforce the policy of nonimportation, by which American merchants refused to import
goods carried in British ships, and in 1774 it took part in convoking the Continental
Congress. Its leaders included Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.
Boston Massacre- A clash between British soldiers and Boston colonists in 1770, in
which five of the colonist were killed. Propaganda.
Committees of Correspondence- One of the groups set up by American colonists to
exchange information about British threats and their liberties
John Peter Zenger– 1735 – publicist accused of libel but found not guilty – first
example in U.S. of freedom of the press.
“Shot heard around the world”– 1775 – Lexington and Concord – Mass.
Boston Tea Party. - The dumping of 18,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor by
colonists in 1773 to protest the Tea Act.
Intolerable Acts/ Coercive Acts- A series of laws enacted by Parliament in 1774 to
punish Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party. Closed the Boston Port,
revoked Massachusetts’ independent rights and put her under more direct control of
England, and also created the new Quartering Act, forcing people to house troops in their
homes if barracks, taverns, or deserted buildings were not available.
Declaration of Independence- The document, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, in
which the delegates of the Continental Congress declared the colonies’ independence
from Britain.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense- Condemning the English Crown (first direct attack on
the King, George III), and increasing popularity of Radicals with the public at large, thus
resulting their gaining more seats in Congress.
Salutary neglect- An English policy of relaxing the enforcement of regulations in its
colonies in return for the colonies’ continued economic loyalty. Helped lead to more
political, economic, and social independence. Occurred before the French and Indian
War.
Navigation Acts- A series of laws enacted by Parliament, beginning in 1651, to tighten
England’s control of trade in its American colonies.
Slave Trade- Northern abolitionists wanted the Constitution to ban the (external) slave
trade. They believed that slavery would eventually prove unprofitable and die out.
Southern Slave owners argued that slavery was vital to the economic survival of the
South. Congress was given the power to ban the slave trade after 1808.
1st Great Awakening- Preachers traveled from village to village, stirring people to
rededicate themselves to God; a revival of religious feelings in the American colonies
during the 1730’s and 1750’s. The Great Awakening brought many colonists, as well as
Native Americans and African Americans, into organized Christian churches. The great
awakening emphasized on human experience, emotionalism, and reason. The Great
Awakening was thus a significant intercolonial movement, which contributed to a sense
of American nationality before the American Revolution.
Suffrage- The right or privilege of voting; franchise.
Nationalism- Devotion to the interests or culture of one's nation – usually implies
superiority.
Land Ordinance, 1785- A law that established a plan for surveying and selling the
federally owned lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787- A law that established a procedure for the admission of
new states to the Union.
Treaty of Paris, 1783- The treaty that ended the Revolutionary War, confirming the
independence of the United States and setting the boundaries of the new nation.
Shays Rebellion- Uprising in Massachusetts in 1786 and 1787 caused by excessive land
taxation, high legal costs, and economic depression following the American Revolution.
Shays' rebellion and the other protests forced the leaders and politicians of the young
nation to take note. The existing Articles of Confederation, which provided for the basic
laws of the nation, were not an effective means of governing. The protests helped push
the nation's leaders closer to formulating and ratifying the Constitution of the United
States.
Bill of Rights- The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, added in 1791 and
consisting of a formal list of citizens’ rights and freedoms.
The Virginia Plan-Proposal presented by Virginia delegates at the 1787 Constitutional
Convention which recommended that Congress be bicameral, and that states'
representation be based on their populations. This plan favored states with large
populations, since they would have more representatives in Congress than less populated
states.
The New Jersey Plan- Proposal presented by New Jersey delegates at the 1787
Constitutional Convention which recommended that Congress be unicameral, and that all
states be equally represented in Congress. Small states developed the proposal to counter
the Virginia Plan. The New Jersey Plan gave large and small states equal power in
Congress, and made Congress power to force states to cooperate with the national
government.
The Great Compromise/ Connecticut Plan- Roger Sherman. The Constitutional
Convention’s agreement to establish a two-house national legislature, with all states
having equal representation in one house and each state having representation based on
its population in the other house.
The 3/5ths Compromise- Delegates agreed to count slaves as 3/5ths of a person when
apportioning representation and taxation
The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise– Congress could not stop the slave trade
before 1808.
The Electoral College- A group selected by the states to elect the president and vice-
president, in which each state’s number of electors is equal to the number of its senators
and representatives in Congress.
Federalist- An advocate of federalism. /A member or supporter of the Federalist Party-
Supporters of the Constitution and of a strong national government.
Anti-federalists- An opponent of a strong central government.
Loose Interpretation– Alexander Hamilton and Federalists – Society changes and the
Constitution should be interpreted for the changing society, not read literally.
Strict Interpretation– Thomas Jefferson. Constitution only means what it explicitly
says
Federalism- A system of government in which power is divided between a central
authority and constituent political units. - A political system in which a national
government and constituent units, such as state governments, share power.
Separation of Powers- The doctrine and practice of dividing the powers of a government
among different branches to guard against abuse of authority. A government of separated
powers assigns different political and legal powers to the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches.
Checks and Balances- The provisions of the U.S. Constitution that prevent any branch
of the U.S. government from dominating the other two branches.
Republicanism- The belief that the government should be based on the consent of the
people.
Legislative Branch- Article I – makes the laws.
The Executive Branch- Article II - administers and enforces the laws.
The Judiciary Branch- Article III - interprets laws and the Constitution.
Faction - A group of persons forming a cohesive, usually contentious minority within a
larger group.
Free Exercise Clause- The legal interpretation of the separation of church and state
raises perplexing legal issues because the Free Exercise Clause sometimes conflicts with
the Establishment Clause. If the government taxes church property, for example, does the
tax violate the church’s right to “free exercise” of its religion? If, on the other hand, the
state exempts churches from property taxes, does the exemption constitute an
unconstitutional “establishment” of religion.
Establishment Clause- Neither the federal government nor the states can enact laws that
would “establish” or create a religion. In the 17th century, most American colonies
supported official religions with public revenues, and laws required residents to attend
church services. The framers of the Constitution drafted the Establishment Clause to
ensure that there would be no official national religion.
Eminent Domain – power of the government to seize land for fair compensation if it is
needed for public good
Due Process - the regular administration of the law, according to which no citizen
may be denied his or her legal rights and all laws must conform to fundamental,
accepted legal principles, as the right of the accused to confront his or her accusers.
Double Jeopardy – being tried for the same crime twice
Self Incrimination – saying anything that can be used against you in court
Rights of the accused – protections in the Bill of Rights for people accused of a crime
Anarchy- Absence of any form of political authority
Autocrat- A ruler having unlimited power; a despot/A person with unlimited power or
authority:
Theocracy- A government ruled by or subject to religious authority
Oligarchy- Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.
Limited/ Absolute Monarchy- Government by a monarch
Totalitarianism- Of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the
political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the
individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is
suppressed: “A totalitarian regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize
the human soul” (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).
Dictatorship- A state or government under dictatorial rule/Absolute or despotic control
or power.
Aristocracy- Hereditary ruling class; nobility.
Democracy- Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected
representatives
Federalism- A system of government in which power is divided between a central
authority and constituent political units.

GOAL 2
Preamble- A preliminary statement, especially the introduction to a formal document
that serves to explain its purpose.
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause) – Article 1 sec. 8 – Congress has the
power to make all laws necessary and proper to the carrying out of the enumerated
powers
Implied Powers – powers assumed under the elastic clause but not explicitly stated
Full Faith and Credit Clause - Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution reads, "Full
Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial
Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the
Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect
thereof." By the Act of May 26, 1790, Congress ordered that judgments made in the
courts of one state “shall have such faith and credit given to them in every court within
the United Sates.” The full faith and credit clause reinforced the principle under common
law of the equal standing of courts, regardless of locale.
Enumerated Powers – Art. I sec. 8 1-17. Powers explicitly stated in the Const.
Expressed Powers – same as enumerated powers
Delegated Powers – powers given to Congress
Reserved Powers - powers given to the states
Concurrent Powers – powers of both the states and Congress
Supremacy Clause – U.S. Const. is the law of the land and states can not pass any laws
conflicting with it.
Speaker of the House – Most powerful leader of the House of Representative. Assigns
legislation to committee
President Pro Tempore – acting head of the Senate win the President is not there.
Mostly just a figure head
President of the Senate – vice president. Only votes if there is a tie
House of Representatives – 435 members elected by voters in the states. Representation
is based on population
Senate– 100 - An assembly or a council of citizens having the highest deliberative and
legislative functions in a government, specifically:
Bill- A draft of a proposed law presented for approval to a legislative body.
Law- A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
The Committee System- Using a smaller body within a larger body to discuss and refine
laws without taking up the time of the whole legislature
Cloture- A parliamentary procedure by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is
taken on the matter under discussion. Also called closure
Filibuster- The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the
purpose of delaying legislative action.
Apportionment- The proportional distribution of the number of members of the U.S.
House of Representatives on the basis of the population of each state
Non-legislative Powers- powers of Congress that do not have to do with making laws
such as approving Presidential nominations
Immunity- immunity granted to officers of the executive branch of government from
personal liability for tortious acts or omissions done in the course of carrying out their
duties
Censure- An official rebuke, as by a legislature of one of its members
Expulsion- The act of expelling or the state of being expelled
Majority and Minority Leaders – party leadership positions in Congress.
Party Whips – party positions in Congress. Keep track of votes
Impeachment- A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
Presidential Succession – order in which people would replace the President if
something happened. Vice-President, Speaker of the House, President Pro-Tempore,
Secretary of State
State of the Union Address – a speech given by the president at the beginning of every
year to set the legislative agenda for that session of congress and to give a general update
on how the country is doing.
Veto Power – President’s power to veto legislation passed by congress
Executive Agreement - an agreement, usually pertaining to administrative matters
and less formal than an international treaty, made between chiefs of state without
senatorial approval.
Executive Orders – issued by president and has force of law
Treaty- A formal agreement between two or more states/countries, as in reference to
terms of peace or trade. Senate approves/ ratifies.
U.S. Supreme Court – highest court of the land. Only hears appeals. Can choose which
cases it will hear
Chief Justice – head of the U.S. Supreme Court
Associate Justices - 8
Original Jurisdiction – first level of court to hear a case
Appellate Jurisdiction – right to review cases after they have been decided in a lower
trial court
Concurrent Jurisdiction – right for more than one court to hear a case
Exclusive Jurisdiction –right for a court to be the only court to hear that case
Impeachment- To charge (a public official) with improper conduct in office before a
proper tribunal.
Pardons- Exemption of a convicted person from the penalties of an offense or crime by
the power of the executor of the laws; An official document or warrant declaring such an
exemption.
Commutations- Reduction of a penalty to a less severe one
Reprieve- To postpone or cancel the punishment of.
Writ of Habeas Corpus- a writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge
Bill of Attainder – law passed suspending due process
Ex post facto laws – law passed that makes an act illegal after it was committed
Rule of Law – no one is above the law
Judicial Review – power of the Supreme Court to declare acts of the President and
Congress unconstitutional
Tradition- Transfer of property to another/The passing down of elements of a culture
from generation to generation, especially by oral communication.
Custom - A common tradition or usage so long established that it has the force or
validity of law/traditions and practices of a specific religion or culture
Equal Protection – laws apply to everyone equally
Citizenship- The status of a citizen with its attendant duties, rights, and privileges.
Marbury v. Madison 1803 – established judicial review
McCulloch v. Maryland 1819 – established national supremacy and the use of the
elastic clause
Gibbons v. Ogden 1824 – reaffirmed national supremacy
Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 – separate is equal
Brown v. Board of Education 1954 – separate is inherently unequal
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education 1969 – bussing can be used to
end de-facto segregation
Korematsu v. US 1944 – president can suspend rights of citizens in times of war
Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US 1964 – Congress can regulate interstate trade
Furman v. Georgia 1972 – death penalty is unconstitutional when used arbitrarily
Gregg v. Georgia 1976 – death penalty itself is not unconstitutional
Gideon v. Wainwright 1963 – 6th amendment right to a lawyer applies to all cases no
matter how small
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke 1978 – affirmative action case
New Jersey v. T.L.O. 1985 – schools do not need a search warrant in order to search
students they just need reasonalbness
Bethel School District v. Frasier 1986 – schools can regulate student speech if it goes
against the moral obligation of a school to provide a quality learning envirnoment
Tinker v. Des Moines 1969 – schools can not regulate speech if it doesn’t pose any sort
of threat
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier 1988 – schools can regulate school newspapers because they
are part of the learning process
Texas v. Johnson 1989 – flag burning is protected under the 1st amendment
Engel v. Vitale 1962 – school prayer is a violation of the 1st amendment
Miranda v. Arizona 1966 – accused must be notified of their 5th amendment rights
before any questioning
Mapp v. Ohio 1961 – anything taken without a search warrant can not be used in court
Redistricting- To divide again into districts, especially to give new boundaries to
administrative or election districts
Interest Groups – groups of citizens with common interest that join together to pool
resources and have a greater impact on public policy
Majority rule/ Minority rights – decisions are based on the will of the majority but
must at the same time not interfere with the rights of the minority
Department of Homeland Security – latest presidential cabinet department
Patriot Act - a 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
Fiscal Policy – government’s use of taxing and spending in order to stimulate or slow
down the economy
Expenditure- The act or process of expending; outlay.
Revenue- The income of a government from all sources appropriated for the payment of
the public expenses.
Regressive taxation – poorer people pay a higher percentage of their income – everyone
pays the same amount in tax, example sales tax.
Progressive taxation – richer people pay a higher percentage of their income – example
income tax
Proportional taxation – everyone pays the same percentage of their income – also
known as a flat tax
Income Tax- A tax levied on net personal or business income.
Excise tax- An indirect tax charged on the sale of a particular good.
Corporate Tax- A levy placed on the profit of a firm different rates are used for different
levels of profits
Direct Tax- A tax, such as an income or property tax, levied directly on the taxpayer.
Estate Tax- A tax imposed on the right to transfer property by inheritance and assessed
on the net value of a decedent's estate before distribution to the heirs. Also called death
tax by its opponents.
Tariffs- A list or system of duties imposed by a government on imported or exported
goods.
Social Security often Social Security Abbr. SS- A government program that provides
economic assistance to persons faced with unemployment, disability, or agedness,
financed by assessment of employers and employees.
Budget deficit/ Surplus – when government revenue is less than/greater than its
expenditures
National debt – total of all government deficits minus anything paid on it
Deficit spending – when the government spend more than it takes in
Tax returns – filed by individuals and companies to report earnings and tax paid
Bond- A certificate of debt issued by a government or corporation guaranteeing payment
of the original investment plus interest by a specified future date.
Balanced Budget – expenditures equal revenue. All state and local governments must
maintain a balanced budget.
Federal Bureau of Investigation – law enforcement agency at the federal level. Only
investigate federal crimes
Central Intelligence Agency – government agency that collects information on people
and foreign countries
Internal Revenue Service – collects taxes
Department of Transportation – oversees roads and public transportation
National Transportation Safety Board – oversees travel safety
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – oversees immigration and naturalization
Drug Enforcement Agency – oversees drug smuggling, making, selling, etc.
Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms – oversees the sale of tobacco, alcohol and firearms.
Makes sure stores follow laws of who can buy.
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) – agency responsible for
organizing and getting help to people who need housing and such due to a natural
disaster. (Think Hurricane Katrina)
Medicare/ Medicaid – government sponsored health program for the elderly (Medicare)
and the poor (Medicaid)
Center for Disease Control – Researches and reports on diseases and outbreaks

GOAL 3
Census- A count of the citizens and an evaluation of their property for taxation purposes.
Separation of Powers – 3 branches independently elected with different purposes
Checks and Balances – each branch has powers to oversee and check the other branches.
Example: presidential veto over congress
Amendment Process – 2/3 state legislature call convention or 2/3 Congress proposes
Amendment and then 3/4th of state legislature or ¾ of states’ citizens vote to approve it.
Popular sovereignty – power lies with the people
Incorporation – legal right of a city to exist and govern itself
Governor – executive of a state
Lieutenant Governor – vice-executive of the state, takes over if Governor can’t serve
and votes in State Legislature if there is a tie
Types of local government: County, city, special districts, townships, metropolis
Mayor- The head of government of a city, town, borough, or municipal corporation
Mayor-council plan- people elect a mayor and a council. Can be strong mayor system
or weak mayor system
City or town council- legislative branch at the local level
Council-manager plan- people elect a town council and sometimes a mayor but the
council appoints a manager to run the city, kind of like a CEO
County Commissioners – people elect 5 commissioners to serve as the legislative
branch of the county government
Sheriff- The chief law enforcement officer for the courts in a U.S. county.
Chief of police – head of the local police department
Statutes- Laws enacted by a legislature.
Ordinance- A statute or regulation, especially one enacted by a city government
Board of Education – oversees public schools within a county or state
Alderman – local elected representative
Referendum – a law or proposed amendment on the ballot for voters to vote on
State v. Mann 1830 – established supremacy of the N.C. constitution over local laws
The Leandro Case – stated that the N.C. constitution did not require equal funding of
education
Civil Rights - rights to personal liberty established by the 13th and 14th
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and certain Congressional acts, esp. as applied
to an individual or a minority group.
Gerrymandering – oddly shaped creation of electoral districts solely on the means of
getting a desired outcome in an election
State Income Tax – percentage of earned income payed to the state government
Corporate Income Tax – percentage of money maid by a business paid to the state
Sales Tax – percentage of the price of a purchased product paid to the state
Excise Tax –tax on luxury items such as tobacco and gasoline. Often used as an dis-
incentive
Inheritance Tax – tax on money you inherit when someone dies. Sometimes called a
death tax
Property Tax – taxed based on the value of property you own. Usually a certain amount
per $100/$1,000 in value
Estate Tax – tax on home and belongings passed on after death. Also called a death tax
Intergovernmental Revenue – money transferred from one level of government to the
other
Impact Fees – fees charged to builders and passed on to new home buyers to cover the
cost of building roads, sewers, schools, etc. Very controversial in Wake County right
now.
State & Municipal Bonds – this is how state and local government raise money for
capital projects

GOAL 4
Political Party
*Democratic – seen as party of the people, more liberal, in support of more social
welfare programs
*Republican – seen as party of the business class, more conservative, doesn’t like
social welfare only corporate welfare
*Third Parties (minor) – challenge the major parties, usually focus on limited
issues
One-Party System – only one dominant party in a country - Communism
Two-Party System – 2 dominant parties compete for power and hold most seats in
legislature
Multi-Party System – many parties compete for influence and seats in parliament.
Often must coalition build to get a majority
Liberal – in support of more social welfare programs, more government control of some
industries such as healthcare, support rights for marginalized and minority groups
Moderate –
Conservative – limited role of government
Platform – written document of political parties stance on current issues
Planks – each individual part of the plaform
Candidates – people running for political action
Plurality Vote – more than any other candidate
Majority Vote – more than 50% of the vote
General Election – held every year. 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November
Primary Election – Part of the nomination process for candidates from major political
parties. elections held to vote for a candidate to run for president for one political party
Partisan/Nonpartisan – based on political party ideaology/not based on political party
ideaology
Caucus- A group within a legislative or decision-making body seeking to represent a
specific interest or influence a particular area of policy:
Political Action Committee – formed by corporations and interest groups in order to
support candidates for election since the actual groups can’t give that much money
Canvass- To go through (a region) or go to (persons) to solicit votes or orders; To
conduct a survey of (public opinion); poll.
Endorsements – famous or popular people support candidates
Propaganda- The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information
reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.
*Glittering Generalities – sound good but don’t mean anything
*Bandwagon – everybody else likes this person
*Stack Cards -
*Name Calling – putting down oponent
*”Just Plain Folks” -hey, I’m just like you!
*Image Molding
Polling Place – place people go to vote
Precinct – smallest electoral division. All people in same precint vote at the same
polling place
Types of Ballots – straight, lever, electronic, butterfly, punch-card
Board of Elections - oversee ballots, registration, and voting
Exit Poll – survey taken as people leave polls to try to predict winners
National Convention – officially nominates that party’s presidential nomination, but
based on primary results
Recall Election – vote to pull someone out of office. Gov. of Calif. Grey Davis
Initiative – procedure for getting a law or amendment onto the ballot
Proposition – petition for a law for voters to vote on
Electors – people chosen to represent a candidate at the electoral college
Electoral College – group of electors that actually elect the president
Political Machine – very strong political party organization that manages to get their
people elected year after year to all levels of government in an area
Mass Media – media that reaches the masses of people
Vote- A formal expression of preference for a candidate for office or for a proposed
resolution of an issue.
Protest- To object to, especially in a formal statement.
Bias- A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment
Slander- Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation.
Libel- A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's
reputation
Petition- A formal written document requesting a right or benefit from a person or group
in authority
Survey- A gathering of a sample of data or opinions considered to be representative of a
whole.
Random Samples – survey of a sample of people that is about 1500 people that
demographically reflect that total population
Activist- A proponent or practitioner of activism: political activists.
Lobbyist- someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills that the lobbyists
favor
Apathy- Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance
or appeal; indifference
Criminal Law- laws that deal with actual criminal statutes
Prosecution – side that investigates and brings a case against the accused
Civil Law – torte law. Civil wrong-doings
Lawsuits- civil suits
Mandatory Sentencing – required sentence for specific crimes
Anarchy- Absence of any form of political authority.
Patriotism- Love of and devotion to one's country.
Peace Corps- A federal government organization, set up in 1961, that trains and sends
American volunteers abroad to work with people of developing countries on projects for
technological, agricultural, and educational improvement.
AmeriCorps – combined the peace corp and job corp
Job Corps - an organization within the Department of Labor that operates rural
conservation camps and urban training centers for poor youths.
Senior Corps – volunteer opportunities for senior citizens
Arbitration – third party decides case
Mediation – third party tries to help two sides reach a decision
Pre-hearing Settlement – civil cases that are settled before trial to avoid costly long
battle

GOAL 5
Federal Courts – district courts, U.S. court of appeal, U.S. supreme court
State Courts – lower courts, trial courts, appellate courts, state supreme courts
Writ of Certiorari – request of judicial review
Brief –supreme courts written decision in a case
Oral Argument – presented by lawyers to the supreme court
Majority Opinion – decision of majority of justices
Dissenting Opinion – decision by one or more justices against the majority opinion
Concurrent Opinion – decision by one or more justices that agrees with majority
opinion but has different
reasoning
Felony- One of several grave crimes, such as murder, rape, or burglary, punishable by a
more stringent sentence than that given for a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor- An offense less serious than a felony.
Tort- Damage, injury, or a wrongful act done willfully, negligently, or in circumstances
involving strict liability, but not involving breach of contract, for which a civil suit can be
brought.
Court Docket – supreme court calander
De facto – not by law
De jure – by law
Prosecutor – state in criminal cases, side bringing criminal case
Complaint – filed by the plaintiff in a civil case stating the alleged wrongdoing and
reasoning of responsibility
Defendant – person who is being sued in a civil case
Plaintiff – person bringing suit in a civil case
Subpoena – court order to turn evidence over to the court
Summons – court order to appear in court
Arrest Warrant – issued by a judge for the arrest of a suspect
Indictment – grand jury finds enough evidence to go to trial
Information / discovery – part of civil case when lawyers from both sides gather
information on the case. Many cases are settled and end before going any further.
Perjury – lying under oath
Plea – guilty, innocent, no contest
Plea Bargaining – saying you are guilty but to a lesser charge
Bail- Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person
as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.
Sentence – consequence if you are found guilty
Public Defender – lawyer appointed to represent a defendant if that defendant can not
afford one
Hearing – where you are presented the charges against you in front of a judge and bail is
set
Bailiff- A court attendant entrusted with duties such as the maintenance of order in a
courtroom during a trial.
Verdict – guilty or innocent
Settlement – responsible and willing to pay x amount
Bill – piece of legislation that if passed will become a law. “I’m just a bill, just a bill on
capital hill”
Standing Committee – permanent, always there, continues work session to session
Seniority System – used to appoint people to committee. Longer you serve more likely
to get Chair or committee you want
House Rules Committee – most powerful committee in House. Sets debate rules and
schedules debates and votes
Line Item Veto – ability to veto only a part of a bill before signing it into law
Pocket Veto – president does nothing to a bill that has been passed by Congress and
Congress goes out of session within a few days
Filibuster – way to kill a bill in the Senate by talking it to death
Cloture – way to end a filibuster. Need 3/5th vote
Rider – completely unrelated amendments to a bill. Can only be added in Senate not
House
Town Meetings – oldest form of government in America. Exercise of direct democracy.
Seen in New England
At-Large – elected based on the whole city/county instead of just a small ward/precinct
within it.
Zoning – decision of local government for land development – residential, commercial,
industrial, mix, ect.

GOAL 6
Criminal Law - the laws of a state or country dealing with criminal offenses and
their punishments.
Civil Law - the body of laws of a state or nation regulating ordinary private matters,
as distinct from laws regulating criminal, political, or military matters.
Constitutional Law - a body of statutory and case law that is based on, concerns, or
interprets a constitution
Administrative Law - the body of rules and principles that governs the duties and
operations of federal or state administrative agencies, as commissions and boards.
Statutory Law - the written law established by enactments expressing the will of the
legislature, as distinguished from the unwritten law or common law
International Law - the body of rules that nations generally recognize as binding in their
conduct toward one another.
State Bureau of Investigation – Responsible for law enforcement at the state level
Franking Privilege – power of Congressional members to mail anything without paying
to mail it
Sheriff – chief law enforcement officer at the county level. Enforces court orders and
oversees jails and deputies
Probation - a method of dealing with offenders, esp. young persons guilty of minor
crimes or first offenses, by allowing them to go at large under supervision of a probation
officer.
Parole - the conditional release of a person from prison prior to the end of the maximum
sentence imposed.
Juvenile Detention – incarceration for juveniles
Incarceration – being put in jail

GOAL 7
Economics – study of decision making
Want – desire but don’t need
Need –must have for survival
Land – natural resources
Renewable Natural Resource – naturally makes more - trees
Nonrenewable Natural Resources - limited supply within earth - oil
Labor – human activity
Capital – money, building, machines, etc.
Entrepreneurship –ambition, innovation, and ideas
Productivity - amount that can be produced with a set amount of labor and time
Incentives – something offered in order to pursaude people to act one way or another
Fixed Costs – always the same no matter how much is produced
Variable Costs –varies depending on how much is produced
Total Costs – fixed and variable
Marginal Costs – cost to produce one more
Specialization – only making what you are absolutely best at making (wine in Italy,
Cheese in Wisconsin)
Human Capital – brainpower and physical labor of workers
White Collar – professional job – business, teacher, doctor, etc.
Blue collar – labor/trade job – custodian, mechanic
Skilled Workers – people with specific skills or knowledge – mechanic, plumber
Unskilled Workers – people with not specific skills – cashier, retail
Capitol Goods – something used by a business to make/provide something else (wood to
build a house)
Consumer Goods – something individuals buy to use (toilet paper)
Law of Diminishing Return – the more you use/eat something the less satisfying it is
(first slice of pizza taste better the 20th slice)
Laissez-Faire- The principle that the government should not interfere in the economy
Invisible Hand – what controls the market (supply and demand) in a capitalist society
Competition – results in highest quality product at lowest price
Consumer Sovereignty – customer controls the market
Private Property – people own factors of production and can do what they want with
them.
Profit Motive – if you are willing to risk you money, time, energy, you can make money
Communist Manifesto – book written by Karl Marx about communist ideaology
Wealth of Nations – book written by Adam Smith about capitalism
The Keynesian Theory- Emphasizing government spending and deficits can help the
economy weather its normal ups and downs.

GOAL 8
Market Economy- an economic system in which the government plays no role, and what
is produced is based solely on what is in demand. There are not true market economies in
existence today.
Mixed Market Economy – some government regulation, minimal government
ownership
Command Economy- an economic system in which the government controls all aspects
of production and consumption, with no individual decisions being made. North Korea is
an example of a command economy.
Mixed Economy- an economic system in which the government is deeply involved in
economic decisions through its role of regulator, consumer, subsidizer, taxer, employer,
and borrower. The US can be considered a mixed economy.
Traditional Economy- an economic system where what is produced is based solely on
the needs of a small community. For example, if wheat is needed, the community grows
wheat. Many 3rd world countries have traditional economies.
Voluntary Exchange – producers and consumers willingly make transactions in the
market place because they benefit both sides
Patents – protects people’s ideas and inventions
Copyrights – protects people’ thoughts and publications
Full Employment – everyone who wants a job has a job
Division of Labor – different people perform different parts of a job to ultimately make
one thing
Circular Flow of Economic Activity – flow of money and resources between the
consumer sector, business sector, government sector and foreign sector
Economic Interdependence – domestic economies are dependent upon the economies of
other countries. Example – U.S. depends on oil from middle east, Russia and Venezuela
Demand Curve/Schedule – how much people want at a given price
Disposal Income – money left over after paying taxes
Complimentary Goods – two items used together – Peanut butter and jelly
Substitute Good – two items used in place of one another – butter or margerine
Surplus – too much product, don’t sell it all, price set about equilibrium price
Shortage – not enough product to meet demand, price set below equilibrium price
Minimum Wage – minimum wage per hour that employers can pay by law. Price floor
– creates surplus of labor/shortage of jobs
Inflation- The rise in price of consumer goods, the devaluation of currency.
Deflation- The fall in price of consumer goods. Ex: Computers, a computer worth
$10,000 ten years ago would now be worth $200
Interest Rates – percentage banks charge to lend you money or pay you to borrow your
money in the form of a savings account or C.D.
Trickle-Down Effect - are characterizations of the policy of lowering taxes on high
incomes and business activity. Proponents of these policies claim that they will promote
new investment and economic growth, thereby indirectly benefiting people who do not
directly pay the taxes.
Supply Side Economics - a school of macroeconomic thought that argues that economic
growth can be most effectively managed using incentives for people to produce (supply)
goods and services, such as adjusting income tax and capital gains tax rates.
Monopoly – no competition only one producer
Oligopoly – very little competition only a few producers
Competitive Market – several producers – branding differentiates
Mergers – two companies coming together as one, limits competition
Sole Proprietorship – company owned by one person
Partnership – company owned by 2 or more people
Corporation – company owned by stock holders
Cooperative - a jointly owned enterprise engaging in the production or distribution of
goods or the supplying of services, operated by its members for their mutual benefit,
typically organized by consumers or farmers.
Franchise - the right or license granted by a company to an individual or group to market
its products or services in a specific territory.
Limited Liability – applies to corporation, only responsible for amount you put in if
company goes bankrupt or gets sued
Unlimited Liability – full responsibility for debt/ lawsuits
Stock – share of a company
Stock Market – places where stocks are bought and sold
Dividend – money earned on stock based on profits of company
Bond – loan to a company
Craft Union – union of skilled workers, ex. plumbers
Industrial Union – union of workers, ex. Auto workers
Collective Bargaining – negotiations between management and union reps to agree on a
contract for the workers
Lockout – management locks out workers without pay to try to force them to accept a
contract on their terms
Strike – workers don’t work to try to force management to accept a contract on their
terms
Social Security Act of 1935 - established the social security system
National Labor Relations Act, 1935 - guarnateed workers the right to join unions
Fair Labor Standards Act, 1938 - set working standards especially in the area of
minumum wage and child labor
Taft-Hartley Act, 1947 - limited the activities of union and abolished closed shops
Anti-trust Laws – no monopolies
Labor Union – created to help workers fight for better working conditions and pay
Certificate of deposit – money put into the bank for a specific period of time.
Savings account deposit – money put in the bank but can be withdrawn at any time
Credit Cards – way of borrowing money short term
Debit Cards – plastic card that allows you to spend money in your checking account
Mutual Funds
Commercial Bank – handle all types of financial transactions
Savings & Loan Associations – mostly savings and home loans
Credit Unions – for members only, non-profit so higher interest rates on savings and
lower interst rates on loans
Federal Deposit Insurance Commission – protects money put into banks in case they
go bankrupt
Investment Spending –money spent in order to make more money
Capitol Investment – buying things that can be used to make other things to sell
Reserve Requirement – percentage of deposits that bank must keep on hand

GOAL 9
Peak/Prosperity – highest point in the business cycle
Contraction/Recession – time between peak and trough, period of declining GDP
Trough/Depression – lowest point in the business cycle
Expansion/Recovery – time after trough until level of last peak, time of increasing GDP
Gross Domestic Product – value of all goods and services produced in a country in a
year
Per Capita GDP – GDP per person – better measure of standard of living
Standard of Living – availability and access to needs and wants
Consumer Price Index- The key measure of inflation that relates prices in one year to
prices in another year.
Deregulation – government relaxing rules on businesses and banking
Microsoft Anti-Trust Case – case against Microsoft for being a monopoly. Found
Microsoft guilty and they had to release information about their operating system in order
to create more competition
Operation Iraqi Freedom – current was in Iraq
Out-sourcing – using people outside our country to perform jobs for companies within
our country. Ex: customer service for cell phone
Tariffs – tax on imported products, AKA Customs duty
Exchange Rate – value of currency in comparison to one another
Multinational Conglomerate – company that operates in more than one country
Globalization – speed at which the world can connect and interact
North American Free Trade Agreement – no trade barriers such as tariffs on trade
between Canada, U.S., and Mexico
World Trade Organization – international trade association that promotes free trade
European Union – lowered trade barriers among European countries by establishing a
common currency and lowering tarrifs
Unfavorable Balance of Trade – importing more than you export (buying more than
you sell)
Comparative Advantage – due to resources, labor, education, etc. you are naturally
better at making something and can do it easier, faster and cheaper
Developed Countries - industrialized
Developing Countries – agrarian, traditional, little industry
United Nations – international peace keeping organization
International Monetary Fund - an international organization that promotes the
stabilization of the world's currencies and maintains a monetary pool from which member
nations can draw in order to correct a deficit in their balance of payments: a specialized
agency of the United Nations.
World Bank - an international bank established in 1944 to help member nations
reconstruct and develop, esp. by guaranteeing loans: a specialized agency of the United
Nations.
Free Trade – no trade barriers or tariffs
Monetary Policy- Manipulation of the supply of money in private hands by which the
government can control the economy
Fiscal Policy- The policy that describes the impact of the federal budget-taxes, spending,
and borrowing- on the economy
Loose (Easy) Money Policy – stimulate economy by increasing the money supply
Tight Money Policy – slow down economy by decreasing money supply
Discount Rate – interest rate the fed charges banks
Open Market Operations – buying and selling of treasury bonds
Revenue – money the government collects
Inflation – steady increase in overall cost of goods
Recession - 6 straight months of declining GDP
Bear and Bull Markets – Bear market is pessimistic/prices down – Bull is
optimistic/lots of investing/prices up

GOAL 10
Compromise- A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.
Cooperation- The association of persons or businesses for common, usually economic,
benefit.
Collaboration- To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort./To cooperate
treasonably, as with an enemy occupation force in one's country.
Racism- The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and
that a particular race is superior to others.
Sexism- Discrimination based on gender, especially discrimination against women.
Ageism- Discrimination based on age, especially prejudice against the elderly.
Bias- A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment/An
unfair act or policy stemming from prejudice.
Gender- The condition of being female or male; sex.
Disability- The condition of being disabled; incapacity
Religion- Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator
and governor of the universe.
Nationality- The status of belonging to a particular nation by origin, birth, or
naturalization.
Physical Appearance
Multicultural- Of, relating to, or including several cultures/Of or relating to a social or
educational theory that encourages interest in many cultures within a society rather than
in only a mainstream culture
“Melting Pot” Theory – many cultures that meld together into one American culture
“Tossed Salad” Theory – many cultures that keep their own unique characteristics
Literacy- The ability to read and write
Taxpayer- one who pays taxes
Charity- Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.
Tolerance- The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or
practices of others
Patriotism- Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it
Baby Boomers – people born after WWII. Currently reaching retirement and straining
the social security and
Graying Population – due to better health and medicine a larger percentage of the
population is 60 and over
Taxation- The act or practice of imposing taxes.
Citizen Apathy- A lack of caring or action within the citizenry, for example, low voting
turnout. COMBAT APATHY!
Security- Freedom from risk or danger; safety
Economic Cycles- a pattern of increases and decreases in economic activity. –Expansion,
peak, contraction, and trough
Disease - A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting
from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and
characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.
Poverty- The state of being poor; lack of the means of providing material needs or
comforts.
Unemployment- Out of work, especially involuntarily; jobless.
Unemployment Rate- As measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS), the
proportion of the labor force actively seeking work but unable to find jobs.
Substance Abuse- The overindulgence in and dependence on an addictive substance,
especially alcohol or a narcotic drug
Racism/Discrimination- The belief that race accounts for differences in human character
or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
Homelessness- Having no home or haven
Crime- An act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it
and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction.
Acid Rain/Greenhouse Effect- Acid precipitation falling as rain. The greenhouse effect
is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the
atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap
energy from the sun.
Natural Disasters- Calamity caused by nature resulting in loss of life or destruction of
property
Pollution- The act or process of polluting or the state of being polluted, especially the
contamination of soil, water, or the atmosphere by the discharge of harmful substances.
Freedom- The condition of being free of restraints.
Liberty- The condition of being free from restriction or control. The right and power to
act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing
Justice- The quality of being just; fairness. The principle of moral rightness; equity
Self-Determination- Determination of one's own fate or course of action without
compulsion; free will. Freedom of the people of a given area to determine their own
political status; independence
Socio-Economic Status- An individual’s or group’s position within a hierarchical social
structure. Socioeconomic status depends on a combination of variables, including
occupation, education, income, wealth, and place of residence. Sociologists often use
socioeconomic status as a means of predicting behavior.