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Civics Content Vocab
Definitions of Words for All Topics (1-12)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| principles | a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning |
| founding ideas | basic principles that guided the Founders' actions at the time of the Founding |
| law | a rule that the members of a society must obey or face a penalty |
| government | the organization that makes rules and provides protection for a community |
| founding documents | the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution and Bill of Rights |
| due process of law | no person should have their life, liberty, or property taken away without a fair process (like a trial) |
| equality of mankind | all individuals have an essential value as human beings, and are equally entitled to certain basic rights |
| limited government | there are limits on the powers that government has and on what government can do |
| natural rights/natural law | we are all born with certain basic rights, including the right to life, liberty and property |
| rule of law | all people are subject to the same set of rules, without exception, and no one is above the law |
| religious liberty | each of us has the right to practice our own religion freely |
| protected right | a right that is established and protected by law |
| ancient Greece | a civilization along the Mediterranean Sea about 2,500 years ago consisting of a peninsula and some islands |
| polis | a self-governing city-state in ancient Greece |
| democratic principles | basic ideas and rules of democracy |
| civic participation | the involvement of citizens in the government of their community |
| legislative body | a group of people that make laws |
| voting rights | the right to vote |
| written constitution | a written document that defines how a government is organized and establishes its basic rules |
| America's constitutional republic | how America is governed by elected representatives with a written constitution |
| ancient Rome | a civilization along the Mediterranean Sea about 2,000 years ago consisting of a peninsula along with a large chunk |
| republicanism | support for the republican form of government—a government by elected representatives |
| representative government | decisions are made by elected representatives rather than directly by the people themselves |
| separation of powers | when each branch of the government has different powers |
| Judeo-Christian tradition | the beliefs and practices of those following the Jewish and Christian religions |
| ethical ideas of justice | the belief that laws should punish wrongdoers and reward those who are good |
| individual worth | each person has value as a human being |
| personal responsibility | each of us is personally responsible for our actions |
| Enlightenment ideas | applying human reason and scientific thinking, instead of following tradition, to understand and improve society and government |
| Montesquieu | a French nobleman and Enlightenment thinker who wrote about government |
| John Locke | an Englishman and Enlightenment thinker |
| social contract | the community agrees to obey the ruler and the ruler agrees to protect the community and individual rights |
| Founding | the period when America was established (1776-1791) |
| Founders/Founding Fathers | those who helped establish America |
| Magna Carta | a document forced on King John of England by his barons (nobles) |
| Mayflower Compact | the set of rules to govern themselves that the Pilgrims signed |
| English Bill of Rights | a document that asserted Parliament's superiority over the ruling monarch |
| Thomas Paine's Common Sense | a pamphlet that urged the colonists to seek independence |
| right to justice | the right to expect just treatment and the help of the government in pursuing justice from others |
| right to fair trial | the right to a fair hearing based on evidence and the law |
| consent of the governed | the approval of people who live under government |
| self-government | the idea that people should govern themselves |
| right to life, liberty and property | people could not be executed, imprisoned, or lose their belongings except as punishment for crimes |
| no taxation without representation | no taxes should be collected without the approval of the people’s representatives in Parliament |
| right to a speedy and fair jury trial | the right to a trial by a group of fellow citizens that is quick and fair |
| no excessive punishments | no unfairly harsh punishments would be allowed |
| representative self-government | people should elect their own representatives to govern them |
| individual rights/liberties | the rights of the people to do certain things |
| limited monarchy | the monarch's power is limited and not absolute |
| arbitrary and abusive uses of government power | government officials unfairly mistreating citizens |
| accountability to the law | the conduct of government officials is subject to written laws that everyone knows |
| fair procedures | the process of applying the law is fair and impartial |
| decisions based on the law | decisions are based on existing laws, not on personal desires |
| consistent application/enforcement of the law | the law is applied and enforced on everyone in the same way |
| transparency of institutions | procedures are conducted openly in public |
| legal system | a community’s set of laws |
| political and governmental system | how government officials are chosen and what they can do |
| society | the community of people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations |
| British (colonial) policies | the course of action taken by the British (relating to the colonies) |
| colonial concerns | things that upset the colonists |
| Declaration of Independence | the document colonists used to declare independence from England |
| causal relationship | when one event leads another to happen |
| British responses | how the British reacted to the colonists' actions |
| (colonial) grievances | formal complaints (from the colonists against King George III) |
| Stamp Act | an act that required all pieces of paper to have an expensive government stamp on them |
| Quartering Act | an act that gave the government the right to quarter (house) soldiers in colonists’ homes |
| Declaratory Act | an act stating that Parliament had the right to pass laws for the colonies, including taxes |
| Townshend Acts | acts that placed a tax on goods like paint, lead, glass, and tea |
| Tea Act | an act that placed a tax on tea brought from India to the colonies |
| Intolerable Acts | acts that closed Boston Harbor, suspended the colonial legislature of Massachusetts, and allowed judges instead of juries to try cases |
| independence | the fact or state of being free from outside control and not depending on another's authority |
| unalienable rights | rights that cannot be separated |
| Preamble | an introduction to a document |
| life, liberty, pursuit of happiness | the right to live, be free, and seek our own goals |
| right of resistance to tyrannical government | the right to resist and even to overthrow a government that used oppression and force against its own citizens |
| role of government | the purpose of government is to protect the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness |
| endowed | to be given something |
| derived | to obtain or get from |
| instituted | created or formed |
| just powers | the power to protect the governed and their rights |
| alter | to change something |
| abolish | to end or get rid of |
| tax | a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions |
| trial by jury | a trial by a group of fellow citizens |
| limited judicial powers | limiting the powers of colonial courts to try cases |
| assent to laws | approval or agreement to the laws |
| oppression | harsh and unjust treatment |
| self-evident | obvious or clear |
| Articles of Confederation | the document written by the Second Continental Congress; the first constitution |
| confederal | the system of government where an association of separate states cooperate together |
| weakness | disadvantages or missing things |
| Congress | America's legislative branch |
| regulate trade | make rules for trade between states |
| national court system | the system of courts across the nation |
| judicial branch | part of government applying the law to individual cases |
| central leadership | a chief executive who leads the national government |
| executive branch | part of government that enforces laws |
| unanimous consent | complete agreement by everyone |
| national/federal government | the level of government concerning nationwide issues |
| U.S. Constitution | the document written by the Constitutional Convention; the second and current constitution |
| enforce | to carry out something |
| Constitutional Convention | a group of delegates gathering in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation |
| debt | amount of money that is owed to others |
| Shays' rebellion | Massachusetts farmers, led by Daniel Shays, rebelled and attacked courthouses when the state began to foreclose on their farms to collect debts |
| militia | citizens’ military force that is called up to act in emergencies |
| inclusion | the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure |
| regulate | to set rules for or control something |
| Anti-Federalist | people who opposed the ratification (approval) of the new Constitution |
| Federalist | people who supported the ratification (approval) of the new Constitution |
| viewpoint | a particular attitude or way of considering a matter |
| ratification | to officially approve and adopt something |
| Bill of Rights | the guarantee of certain individual rights added to the Constitution |
| division of powers | when each level of the government has different powers |
| state government | the level of government concerning statewide issues |
| reserved powers | the powers held back from the national government and reserved for the state governments |
| delegated powers | powers delegated for the national government |
| enumerated powers | powers enumerated for the national government |
| expressed powers | powers expressly for the national government |
| concurrent powers | powers given to both the national government and the state governments |
| federalism | the division of power between the national government and the state governments |
| Article IV | spells out relations between the national government and the states, as well as between the states themselves |
| Tenth Amendment | all powers not delegated to the national government are reserved for the states and the people |
| Supremacy Clause (Article VI) | whenever there is a conflict between federal and state law, the federal law is supreme |
| admission of new states | Congress is in charge of accepting or refusing the request of a territory to become a state |
| republican form of government | a government by elected representatives |
| voting | a formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates, expressed through a ballot |
| elections | formal and organized choices by vote of a person for a political office |
| voting process | a series of actions or steps taken in order for citizens to vote in elections |
| local, state, national | different levels of government |
| citizen | a person born or nationalized in a nation |
| Republican Party | one of two major political parties in America; right-wing |
| Democrat | one of two major political parties in America; left-wing |
| political party | a group of people who share political beliefs |
| public policy | actions of government to meet public needs |
| free and fair elections | people do not have to pay to vote, free speech allows candidates to criticize government policies and campaign, and citizens mark their ballots in private to be counted by impartial officials |
| democratic institutions | government bodies that follow democratic principles, such as having elected officials, and protecting individual rights |
| absentee ballot | a ballot used by someone not appearing at the polling place |
| apportionment | where the lines are drawn for different election districts to make sure that each representative represents about the same number of voters |
| ballot | a piece of paper used to record someone's vote |
| census | an event that takes place every ten years where the population is counted |
| constituent | a person represented in an officeholder's district |
| electorate | all the people entitled to vote in a given area |
| early voting | voting that takes place before Election Day |
| general election | the election where the nominees from opposing parties run against each other |
| poll worker | person working at a polling place |
| polling place | where citizens go to vote |
| popular vote | the actual selection made by voters |
| precinct | the smallest election district, below county |
| primary election | a special election that indicates the preference of party members for the party’s nominees |
| Supervisor of Elections | the person who manages the election process in each county |
| vote by mail | the process that allows citizens to use the mailing system to vote using an absentee ballot |
| voter registration | the process that allows citizens to register to vote |
| electoral vote | a group of individuals (electors) has one each; 270 are needed to win the presidency |
| purpose/function of the Electoral College | the Electoral College was created by the authors of the Constitution, since they didn't trust people to elect the president directly |
| origin of the Electoral College | the authors of the Constitution created the Electoral College |
| President | the chief executive at the national level |
| 12th Amendment | it divided the election of the President and Vice President into separate contests |
| Election of 1800 | Thomas Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr each received the same number of votes, and the election went to the House of Representatives |
| Electoral College membership | the process of becoming an elector |
| faithless electors | electors that don't follow the popular vote; usually fined and replaced |
| constitutional qualifications | requirements for holding an elected position in the government |
| political office | a government office that someone is elected to |
| media | newspapers, magazines, radio and television programs, websites and blogs, and social media like Facebook and Instagram |
| watchdog | a person or group whose function is to monitor the practices of the government |
| freedom of the press | government officials cannot censor newspaper or other media reports before they are published or prosecute journalists for reporting the truth |
| 1st Amendment | the 1st addition to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights |
| individual | a single human being as distinct from a group, class, or family |
| civic meetings | meetings held for public purposes |
| peacefully protesting | marching, demonstrating in front of government buildings, or holding a rally to attract publicity and persuade lawmakers to act |
| petitioning government | sending a formal document, signed by citizens, requesting the government to do something |
| running for office | seeking election to a government position |
| interest group | a group of individuals with common interests who seek to influence public policy |
| monitor | to watch over something and check what is happening with it |
| hold government accountable | make government responsible for their actions |
| influence | when one person, thing, or action affects another |
| lobbying | influencing new legislation or regulations by speaking with state legislators, Congress, or government officials |
| lobbyist | someone paid to influence new legislation or regulations by speaking with state legislators, Congress, or government officials |
| political action committees (PACs) | can provide larger sums of money to political candidates than individuals are permitted to contribute |
| gatekeeper | someone who controls access to information |
| Government in the Sunshine Law (Florida Statute) | a law making sure whistleblowers do not have to fear retaliation from their employers |
| protections for whistleblowers | laws where it is made sure that an agency or company cannot dismiss a whistleblower without receiving a penalty |
| special interest group | an interest group focused on a specific subject |
| bias | a prejudice in favor of or against something; being one-sided |
| symbolism | the use of symbols in speech, writing or art |
| propaganda | a form of public communication that provides biased and one-sided information |
| political communication | statements from political parties, interest groups and others attempting to influence voters, public opinion and government actions |
| impact | the effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another |
| public opinion | the views of average citizens and the general public |
| purpose | the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists |
| goals and purposes of government | stated in the Preamble of the Constitution |
| "We the People" | expresses the fact that under our system of government, the people are the final source of all political power |
| more perfect union | the states are closer together and more unified |
| establish justice | protect citizens from crime and injury |
| domestic tranquility | peace within the country |
| common defense | defense of the nation from foreign enemies |
| general welfare | the well-being of the entire nation |
| liberty | individual freedom and other individual rights |
| posterity | all future generations; those who live after |
| ordain | to order, decree, command, or establish something |
| popular sovereignty | the people themselves are the highest authority |
| branch of government | the different parts of government |
| legislative branch | part of government that makes laws |
| structure of the legislative branch | Congress has two houses (bicameral): the Senate (2 per state) and House of Representatives (proportional) |
| structure of the executive branch | the President and Vice President form the heads of the branch carrying out laws |
| structure of the judicial branch | the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court of the land |
| function of the legislative branch | The legislative branch makes laws |
| function of the executive branch | The executive branch enforces laws |
| function of the judicial branch | The judicial branch interprets laws |
| powers | the ability to do something or act in a particular way, |
| roles | the function assumed by a person or thing in a particular situation |
| responsibilities | a thing that one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation |
| Article I | established the legislative branch (Congress) |
| Article II | established the executive branch (the President) |
| Article III | established the judicial branch (the Supreme Court) |
| advice and consent | the President needs the Senate's approval to ratify treaties or approve appointments |
| confirmation process | the process of the Senate approving an appointment |
| impeachment process | the process by which the House and Senate accuse the President, who if convicted, will be removed |
| lawmaking process | the process by which a bill becomes a law |
| ratification process | the process of the Senate ratifying a treaty |
| processes of the legislative branch | lawmaking process, confirmation process, ratification process, impeachment process |
| committees (joint, select, special, standing) | standing: permanent committees that deal with all bills on a particular topic select/standing: special committees created for temporary purposes joint: committees with members from both houses |
| how a bill becomes a law | bill is introduced, sent to committee, debated and voted by house if committee approves, sent to other house with same steps, sent to conference committee to iron out differences, sent to President for approval or veto, Congress can override with 2/3 vote |
| committee selection | who is assigned to each committee |
| bill | a proposed law; may or may not become a law |
| law | the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties |
| lawmakers | someone who helps bills become laws |
| Florida Legislature | the state legislature in Florida |
| House of Representatives | the proportional chamber of Congress (435 members) |
| Senate | the non-proportional chamber of Congress (100 members) |
| U.S. congressmen/congresswomen | another name for representatives |
| state legislators | people working in the state legislature |
| representatives | people working in the House of Representatives |
| senators | people working in the Senate |
| county/city commissioner | elected members of the county/city commission |
| council members | elected members of the city council |
| processes of the executive branch | appointment process, executive orders, veto power, impeachment process |
| executive order | a rule or order made by the President with the force of law; does not require the approval of Congress |
| veto | to refuse to pass or approve something |
| appointments | people placed in government positions |
| executive authority | the authority that an executive has over the government |
| administrative agencies | groups or organizations in the government that have responsibility over a particular field or area |
| advise | offer suggestions about the best course of action to someone |
| make regulations | create detailed rules to help carry out the law |
| enforce law and regulations | punish those who do not follow the laws and regulations |
| processes of judicial branch | trial process, appellate process, court order, writ of certiorari |
| powers of judicial branch | judicial review, jurisdiction |
| judicial review | the power of the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts to declare that a law or executive order is unconstitutional |
| court order | an instruction from the court with the force of law |
| writ of certiorari | an order by the Supreme Court granting a request for review by a lower court |
| summary judgement | when there is overwhelming evidence for one side, leaving no real issues of fact for the jury to decide |
| state courts | courts that usually operate based on state laws or issues within states |
| federal courts | courts that usually operate based on federal laws or issues beyond states |
| jurisdiction | the territory and type of cases over which a court exercises its authority |
| state constitution | a written document that defines how a state government is organized and establishes its basic rules |
| trial process | the process by which a case is tried in court |
| appellate process | the process by which a case is appealed to a higher court |
| case precedent | court decisions in prior cases |
| civil matters | concerns everyday relations between citizens and disputes between private parties |
| criminal matters | concerns situations in which a person or group has deliberately broken the law and harmed others |
| Federal Judiciary Act of 1789 | Congress created the first inferior (lower) federal courts |
| independent judiciary | a judiciary which could not be easily pressured |
| trial | a hearing where a jury decides the disputed facts and assigns responsibilities based on evidence |
| role of juries | juries hear the evidence, decide on the facts of the case, and assign responsibilities |
| jury | a panel of impartial citizens, chosen at random from a pool of local citizens |
| administration of justice | how the enforcement of the law, punishment of lawbreakers, and payment to those unfairly injured are administered |
| justice | the enforcement of the law, punishment of lawbreakers, and payment to those unfairly injured |
| American legal system | the set of laws in America |
| types of jury trials | civil and criminal cases |
| jury selection | how lawyers for each side have a chance to question jurors to remove any who appear to be biased (prejudiced) |
| jurisdiction | what a given jury has the authority to decide |
| jury summons | a document ordering citizens to appear at the courthouse or to be on standby for possible jury service |
| size of jury | how many people are on a given jury |
| judge | an official, trained in the law, in charge of the court |
| verdict | the decision or judgement in a case that is made by a jury |
| voir dire | the process where lawyers for each side have a chance to question jurors to remove any who appear to be biased (prejudiced) |
| checks and balances | each branch of the national government has specific powers to check the other branches |
| constitutional government | a government based on a written constitution |
| rights | a legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way |
| amendments | changes, modifications, or additions made to a law or other legal document |
| cruel and unusual punishment | a type of punishment made to inflict great suffering on a person, like torture |
| double jeopardy | when someone is tried twice for the same crime |
| eminent domain | private property may be taken over by government for public use, but the owner must be fairly compensated (paid) |
| equal protection under the law | all states must treat all people equally under the law |
| pleading the fifth | refusing to answer questions where the answer might be self-incriminating |
| self-incrimination | when someone testifies against themselves |
| right to bear arms | possess or carry guns for self-defense |
| right to legal counsel | the right to have a lawyer or attorney in criminal matters |
| search and seizure | when someone's belongings are looked through or taken |
| suffrage | the right for a citizen to vote |
| unenumerated rights (Ninth Amendment) | other rights not listed in the Constitution may still exist and remain with the people |
| 13th Amendment | abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States |
| 14th Amendment | defined citizenship and requires due process and equal protections |
| 15th Amendment | prohibited the rejection of the right to vote to any citizen on the basis of race, color, or having been a slave |
| 19th Amendment | gave women the right to vote (suffrage) |
| 24th Amendment | abolished poll taxes as a requirement to vote in federal elections |
| 26th Amendment | lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years old |
| freedoms | the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint |
| safeguard | to protect something |
| limitations | a limiting rule or circumstance; a restriction |
| property rights | the right to be secure in the private ownership of property |
| civil disobedience | peacefully refusing to follow or obey unjust laws |
| government-imposed limitations | restrictions the government places on something |
| forced internment | confinement of people in camps or prisons |
| rationing | limiting the amounts of some goods, such as food or gas, that people can buy |
| habeas corpus | a court order to an official to bring an imprisoned person before the court, in order for the court to decide whether there is enough evidence to justify imprisonment |
| libel | a false written statement that is harmful |
| slander | a false spoken statement that is harmful |
| amendment process | the process used to change or modify something |
| Article V | set up a two-step formal amendment process where an amendment was proposed by 2/3 of each house and ratified by 3/4 of states |
| propose | put forward (an idea or plan) for consideration or discussion by others |
| ratify | to approve something |
| African Americans | a Black American of African descent |
| women | adult female human beings |
| American society | the community of people living in America and having shared customs, laws, and organizations |
| political process | the process where people express their concerns, vote, and run for office |
| Civil Rights Act of 1964 | banned discrimination in restaurants, hotels, and most employment on the basis of race, sex (gender), religion or ethnic origin |
| Civil Rights Act of 1968 | banned discrimination in housing on the basis of race |
| Voting Rights Act of 1965 | enforced the 15th and 24th Amendments |
| sources of law | places where laws have first come from |
| types of law | a particular kind, class, or group of law |
| historical codes of law | collections of laws brought together throughout history (Code of Hammurabi, Twelve Tables) |
| constitutional law | laws concerning rights and responsibilities from the U.S. Constitution (including the Bill of Rights) or a state constitution |
| statutory law | laws (statutes) passed by legislatures, such as by Congress or a state legislature |
| case law | laws based on case precedents (court decisions in prior cases) |
| common law | laws based on customs and judicial precedents (the decisions of courts looking at similar cases) |
| civil law | laws concerning everyday relations between citizens and disputes between private parties |
| criminal law | laws concerning situations in which a person or group has deliberately broken the law and harmed others |
| military law | laws concerning people in the armed forces |
| Supreme Court | the highest court of the land |
| decisions on law | decisions on what the law means |
| decisions on liberty | decisions on what freedoms people can enjoy |
| decisions on the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution | decisions on how the U.S. Constitution is to be interpreted |
| Marbury v. Madison | the Court interprets laws and overturns laws it views as conflicting with the Constitution |
| Dred Scott v. Sanford | slaves can't get citizenship, even if freed; a slaveowner's property could not be taken away by crossing a state line |
| Plessy v. Ferguson | segregation could continue as long as the facilities provided to each race were separate but equal |
| Brown v. Board of Education | schools could no longer be separated because African American children were made to feel inferior, not equal, to whites |
| Gideon v. Wainwright | state governments are required to provide a lawyer to defendants too poor to afford one if charged with a felony |
| Miranda v. Arizona | suspects must be read their 5th and 6th Amendment rights before interrogation; otherwise, a confession is invalid |
| In re Gault | although juvenile courts have different procedures than adult courts, normal due process rights still apply to minors |
| U.S. v. Nixon | Nixon was not justified in withholding Watergate tapes due to his executive privilege |
| Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier | schools have the right to censor speech in activities they sponsor if the restrictions are valid for educational purposes |
| significance of case | how a case is important |
| impact on society | how something affects people's everyday lives |
| constitutional principles | the principles in the U.S. Constitution |
| Florida Constitution | the written document that defines how Florida is organized and establishes its basic rules |
| purposes of a constitution | the reasons for which a constitution is created |
| framework for government | the basic structure or system of organization of a government |
| protects individual rights | to foster or shield individual rights from infringement or restriction |
| outline | a general description or plan giving the essential features of something but not the detail |
| supreme law | law associated with a higher level of government |
| government obligations | services the government at a given level must provide to citizens |
| services | pieces of work done for someone |
| address a state problem | resolving an issue concerning the entire state |
| address a local problem | resolving an issue concerning the local community |
| public policy alternatives | possible ways of solving a problem though public policy |
| government agency | a permanent or semi-permanent organization within a national or state government |
| issue | a vital or unsettled matter |
| resolve | to deal with successfully; clear up |
| course of action | steps to be taken |
| local government | the level of government concerning issues across a local community |
| forms of government | defined by who holds power in government |
| constitutional republic | when a country is governed by elected representatives with a written constitution |
| democracy | government based on rule by the people |
| monarchy | a government ruled by one person, who holds hereditary power |
| oligarchy | members of a small group, such as nobles, wealthy, hereditary landowners, or army officers, hold power |
| theocracy | a government controlled by religious leaders |
| autocracy | one ruler holds all political power |
| political philosophy | beliefs people have about government |
| organizational structure | ways governments are organized |
| authoritarian nation | an all-powerful individual or small group holds complete authority and can order other members of society at will |
| totalitarian nation | an authoritarian government controls all aspects of its people’s lives; its control over society is total |
| system of government | the relationship between a government's central and local governments |
| local sovereignty | local control |
| national unity | letting local authorities have the final say over local matter |
| authoritarianism | a system of government by an all-powerful ruler with complete authority |
| unitary | central government holds all the power; it creates, delegates power to, and can abolish local governments |
| economic system | how a society produces goods and services, and how it distributes those goods and services to its members |
| capitalism | individuals own private property, and private businesses can sell goods and services freely |
| free market | an economic system in which prices are based on competition among private businesses and are not controlled or regulated by a government |
| government-controlled | the state of being controlled by a government |
| communism | government leaders decide which goods and services to produce and who gets them |
| socialism | the government owns some industries and provides many public services at no charge |
| economic freedom | the freedom to make one’s own economic choices |
| standard of living | a measure of how well the people of a society are doing |
| economic prosperity | how well an economy is performing |
| economic opportunity | opportunities for individual initiative |
| command economy | an economy controlled by a government |
| free enterprise | freedom of private business to organize and operate for profit in a competitive system without interference by government |
| mixed economy | combines elements of a free market and command economy |
| private property | property that an individual or group controls |
| U.S. foreign policy | any U.S. government policy that deals with foreign affairs |
| U.S. domestic policy | any U.S. government policy that deals with domestic affairs |
| domestic | of, relating to, or originating within a country |
| foreign | situated outside a place or country |
| national interest | what is in the best interest of a nation |
| alliances | an agreement between two or more countries to act together |
| allies | fellow members of an alliance |
| ambassadors | official representatives of one country sent to reside in another |
| Department of State | the department that manages our nation’s foreign policy |
| diplomacy | direct dealings between countries, usually handled by the representatives of each country |
| diplomats | officials who act as representatives between nations |
| doctrine | a major new set of principles of foreign policy |
| domestic affairs | things happening inside a country |
| embassy | a building or place that represents an ambassador’s country abroad and is where they live |
| foreign affairs | things happening in other countries |
| international relations | relations between independent countries all around the world |
| military | fighting forces, such as the army, navy and air force |
| national security | a nation's future safety and survival |
| treaty | a solemn agreement concluded between two or more countries, which is enforceable under international law |
| sanctions | measures that a country takes to try to persuade another country to change its policies (usually economic) |
| U.S. participation | the action of the U.S. taking part in something |
| citizen participation | the action of citizens taking part in something |
| international organizations | organizations with several countries as members |
| North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) | was formed in 1949 to defend Western Europe against possible Soviet attack |
| United Nations (UN) | the major aim is to maintain world peace, while trying to promote friendship and cooperation among nations |
| International Court of Justice (World Court) | the judicial branch of the UN; settles legal disputes between countries |
| World Trade Organization (WTO) | members set of rules for world trade, including rules for settling disputes; they also reduce tariffs and other obstacles to trade |
| U.S. membership in international organizations | the fact of the U.S. being a member of an international organization |
| International Red Cross/Crescent | coordinates relief efforts in the event of war or natural disaster |
| Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) | organizations that are not controlled by governments |
| International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) | an NGO with operations around the world |
| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) | created a reduced-tariff trade zone in North America |
| United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) | distributes vaccines, medicines, food, and educational supplies, and promotes children’s rights |
| U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) | a replacement to NAFTA negotiated in 2016 |
| international conflicts | prolonged struggles occurring around the world |
| involvement | the fact or condition of being involved with or participating in something |
| international incidents | events occurring around the world |
| methods | various tools used to do something |
| espionage | gathering secret information (intelligence) about foreign countries, their military capabilities, and their leaders’ plans |
| humanitarian efforts | attempts to improve living conditions around the world |
| peacekeeping operations | sending military forces to monitor and observe an area after a conflict has ended |
| war | armed conflict between nations |
| Berlin Airlift | Germany and Berlin were divided into West and East. Berlin was also divided, even though it was eastern. The Soviets blocked railways and roads to West Berlin, so the U.S. and its allies dropped supplies from above. The Soviets then reopened the roads. |
| Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 | The U.S. Congress, along with other countries, placed sanctions on South Africa. This was due to South Africa's policy of apartheid. These sanctions would not be lifted until 1991, when apartheid was ended. |
| Cuban Missile Crisis | American spy planes discovered that Cuba was making bases for nuclear missiles. President Kennedy blockaded Cuba to stop them. Soviet leader Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles. |
| Iran Hostage Crisis | An angry mob seized the staff of the U.S. Embassy. They were held as hostages for more than a year. President Carter negotiated their release. |
| Korean War | North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. To prevent communist expansion, President Truman sent U.S. troops to South Korea. The U.S. defeated North Korean troops in South Korea, and advanced so far north, China got involved. The war ended in an armistice. |
| World War II | Germany fought Poland, Belgium, France, and Denmark. Japan fought the U.S. at Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war. Germany and Italy also declared war. They gave up when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. |
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