Civics terms

A change, such as a change to the Constitution

A list of citzens’ rights, specifically the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

An official count of the population made every 10 years

The system that gives each of the 3 branches of government ways to limit the powers of the other two

A person with certain rights & duties under a government

Freedoms to think & act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment

The rights of full citizenship & equality under the law

The part of society where people associate or interact voluntarily to pursue interests they share

The well-being of all members of society

The idea that the structure and powers of government should be based upon a written or unwritten agreement, setting limits to the power of the government

Document that describes the natural rights of all people, lists the colonial grievances against the king, and declares that, because the king and Parliament have failed to protect the rights of their American subjects, they declare themselves "free and independent states"

Powers which are specifically listed in the U.S. Constitution as being granted to the national government

Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives

A government in which a single leader or party exercises absolute control over all citizens and every aspect of their lives

Being placed on trial twice for the same crime

A process by which the government must treat accused persons fairly according to rules established by law

Representation in which each state’s Congressional membership is the same

The branch of government responsible for executing or enforcing the laws

The division of powers between the states and the federal, or national, government

Set of beliefs and goals of a social or political group that explain or justify the group's decisions and behavior

Powers claimed by national government which are not specifically listed in the Constitution

The branch of government responsible for interpreting the laws

The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or government regulation which it believes to be unconstitutional

The authority of a court to hear a case

The branch of government responsible for making the laws

The belief among citizens that their government has the right to pass and enforce laws

A political system in which individual rights & freedoms are highly values & protected

A system in which controls are placed on the powers of the government, & each individual has certain rights that the government canot take away

British document, signed by King John in 1215, which limited the powers of the king & recognized that even he was subject to the law

A system of government in which one person, usually a king or queen, inherits power

Rights that people are born with and that no government can take away

Process by which an immigrant becomes a citizen

Active citizenship; can include voting, lobbying, letter writing, etc.

The ability to impose your will upon others

The idea that the people are the source of the government’s power, that government must be conducted with the consent of the governed

Representation in which each state’s Congressional membership is based on its population

Government response to public issues

A system of government carried out by elected representatives

The concept of a government of laws

Dividing government power among legislative, executive, & judicial branches

Supreme, absolute power of a nation within its own territory

The right to vote

Abuse of power

The fundamental law of the United States

An order requiring that a prisoner be brought before a judge & his incarceration be justified