Absolute Monarchy. Autocracy in which a king, queen, or emperor exercises unlimited powers of government.

Absolute Monarchy

Autocracy in which a king, queen, or emperor exercises unlimited powers of government.

Affirmative Action

A plan or program to address the effects of past discrimination by providing minorities access in employment, education, or other activities.

Amendment (Constitutional)

Changes in, or additions to, a document (e.g. U.S. Constitution). In the United States proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two thirds of the state legislatures. Ratified by approval of three-fourths of the states legislatures or special conventions called in three-fourths of the states.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was established to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in all areas of an individual's life including Government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.

AmeriCorps

A network of national service programs that engage Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment.

Amnesty

A pardon is granted to a large group of individuals.

Anarchy

The absence of government; lawlessness; in some cases political disorder.

Anti-Federalist

The political leaders who were against ratification of the Constitution because they thought it gave too much power to the federal government and did not protect the rights of the people.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The legal authority of a court to hear appeals from a lower court.

Appropriations

A legislative act authorizing the expenditure of a designated amount of public funds for a specific purpose.

Aristocracy

Members of noble families and class.

Articles of Confederation

First constitution of the United States in 1781. Created a weak national government, replaced in 1789 by the Constitution of the United States.

Authoritarian

A form of government in which those in power hold absolute and unchangeable authority over people such as in a dictatorship.

Autocracy

Government by a single person with unlimited power.

Autonomy

The right of self-government.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

In a criminal trial, jurors are told to find the defendant guilty if they are convinced of their guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt".

Bicameral

A legislative body composed of two houses.

Bill

A proposal presented to the legislative branch for possible enactment as a law.

Bills of Attainder

A legislative act that punishes a person without a court trial.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution, which restrict the federal government's power to take away certain basic rights of people.

Breach of Contract

Failure to do something that is required in contract.

Budget

An itemized summary of expenses and income for a given period of time.

Budget Deficit

A negative balance at the end of the business year.

Budget Surplus

A positive balance at the end of the business year.

Business Cycle

A sequence of economic activity typically characterized by recession, fiscal recovery, growth, and fiscal decline

Cabinet

Secretaries of the executive departments, the vice-president, and other top officials that help the president make decisions and policy and give advice.

Campaign

The competition by rival political candidates and organizations for public office

Candidate

An individual who seeks a job or position in local, state, or national government.

Census

A population count.

Checks and Balances

Constitutional principle that allow one branch of the government to limit the exercise of power by another branch of government. For example, the president may veto legislation passed by Congress.

Civil Law

All law that does not involve criminal matters. Civil law deals with the disputes between individuals or groups of individuals.

Civil Liberty

Personal freedoms that the government cannot abridge by law, constitution, or judicial interpretation.

Civil Rights

Protections and privileges given to all United States citizens by the Constitution and Bill of Rights regardless of race, sex, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Civil Rights Act (1964)

An act of Congress designed to protect the rights of individuals to fair treatment by private persons, groups, organizations, businesses, and government.

Civil Rights Act of 1968

With minor exceptions, forbids anyone to refuse to sell or rent a dwelling to any person on grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or disability.

Civil War Amendments

The 13, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution designed to protect the rights and liberties of the freed/former African slaves.

Cloture

A procedure in the Senate by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken on the matter under discussion

Command Economy

An economic system in which economic decisions to answer the basic economic questions of "what", "how", and "for whom" are made by an authority such as a feudal lord or government agency.

Common Law

The body of unwritten law, which originated in England and was later applied in the United States. Based on judicial precedent rather than statutory laws, which are made through the legislative process.

Communism

A political and economic theory in which factors of production are collectively owned.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Authority of both the state and federal courts to hear certain types of cases (i.e., civil case filed in federal court that could be filed in a state court).

Concurrent Powers

Powers that both the national government and the states have.

Confederation

A group of independent states or nations united under a weak central government that has little influence over the independent states.

Conference Committee

A temporary joint committee called to resolve the differences when the House and Senate have passed different versions of the same bill.

Congress

The legislative body in the United States.

Consent of the Governed

John Locke's ideas that the government gets its right to govern from the people. This principle is included in the Declaration of Independence.

Conservatism

A political ideology generally characterized by a belief in individualism and minimal government intervention.

Constituents

Residents of a district or members of a group represented by an elected official.

Constitution (United States)

The fundamental underlying documents ratified in 1789, which establishes the government of the United States.

Constitutional Monarchy

A monarch that has shared governmental powers with elected legislatures or serves mainly as ceremonial leader of a country.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A measure of the changes in the cost of selected consumer goods and services from a fixed base period.

Contract

A written document containing an agreement between two or more individuals or entities.

Convention

A meeting of a group of individuals for a similar purpose. In the case of political parties, conventions are held to nominate candidates for political office.

Court of Appeals

A state or federal court, which hears, appeals from judgments and rulings of trial courts or lower appeals courts.

Criminal Law

Law and law proceedings that deal with the investigation and trial of those accused of crimes against society.

Damages

Money to be paid as compensation for injury or loss as a result of a civil action.

Declaration of Independence

Written by a committee and compiled by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, it is a statement of philosophy on government, a list of colonists' grievances against the King of England and a declaration of separation.

De Facto Segregation

Segregation that happens from practice rather than legal requirement.

Defendant

In a civil suit, the person against whom the plaintiff brings a court action; in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime.

Deficit

The amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required or expected amount.

Deflation

When the measure of overall prices (CPI) indicates that prices are falling.

Delegate

Representative; lawmaker who views him or herself as the agent of those who elected him or her and votes accordingly, regardless of his or her personal opinions.

Delegated Powers

Powers expressly granted to the national government by the Constitution. These powers, found in Article I, section 8, include the authority to provide for the common defense, to coin money and to regulate commerce.

Demand

The different quantities of a resource, good, or service that will be purchased at various possible prices at a given point in time.

Democracy

A form of government in which political control is exercised by all people, either directly or through their elected representatives.

Demographics

Using vital statistics of human populations, as size, growth, density, and distribution to make decisions or set policy, such as identifying consumers.

Denied Powers

Limitations on the powers of national and state government. These appear in Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution prohibiting the power to grant titles of nobility, to pass bills of attainder, or to pass ex post facto laws.

Depression

A period of low economic activity and widespread unemployment.

Despotism

A government or political system in which the ruler exercises absolute power or authority.

Dictatorship

A government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Direct Democracy

A government where all people have a direct say in the decision making.

Discount (interest) rate

The interest rate the Federal Reserve System charges member banks for overnight loans.

Discrimination

Actions that treat people differently, based on factors or characteristics such as, race, religion, class, gender, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age.

Dissenting Opinion

Written explanation of the views of one or more judges who disagree with (dissent from) a decision reached by a majority of the court.

District Court

The lowest court. There is a federal and Maryland district court.

Double Jeopardy

Part of the Fifth Amendment that says that no person can be put in jeopardy of life or limb twice; once a person has been tried for a crime, he or she cannot be tried again for the same crime.

Domestic Policy

Policies related to a country's internal affairs rather than foreign affairs.

Due Process of Law

The right of every citizen to be protected against arbitrary action by the government. Part of the Fourteenth Amendment that guarantees the application of the protections of the Bill of Rights to the state. Part of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment that states "no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..."

Economic Sanctions

Economic penalties applied by one country or group of countries on another for economic, political, or other reasons. Economic sanctions can include embargoes, tariffs, duties, quotas, and other monetarily damaging penalties.

Economics

The study of how people, individually and in groups (families, businesses, governments, organizations) choose to use their relatively scarce productive resources to satisfy their wants.

Elastic Clause

The clause in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws, "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers expressed in the other clauses in Article I.

Elector

Member of a party chosen in each state to formally elect the President and the Vice-President.

Electoral College

Representatives of each state who cast the final ballot that elects the President and Vice President. Each state has as many electors as it has members of Congress. This is done differently according to a state. Most political parties select the electors and the people vote for this slate of electors.

Electoral Vote

The Constitution provides that the date Congress sets for the electors to meet "shall be the same throughout the United States." (Article II, Section 1, Clause 4).

Embargo

A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation.

Eminent Domain

The power of the government to take private property for public use. The 5th Amendment restricts the government's use of power, by requiring that the government pay just compensation for the property.

Enumerated Powers

The expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered 1-18 in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. See expressed powers.

Entitlements

Programs in which Congress set eligibility requirements and those individuals that meet the criteria can receive these benefits. Social Security can be claimed by individuals when they reach the eligibility age (63, 65, or 67) that is set by Congress.

Environment

Everything in and on earth's surface and its atmosphere within which organisms, communities, or objects exist.

Equal Protection Under the Law

The idea that no individual or group may receive special privileges from nor be unjustly discriminated against by the law.

Equity

Most commonly thought of as justice.

Establishment Clause

The clause in the First Amendment that states "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion,"which means the government may not establish an official religion.

European Union

An organization of European nations that establishes the legal European citizenship and sets economic and political policies of its member nations. The European Union also includes the free movement of goods, peoples, services, and capital between members, nations, and their citizens.

Exclusionary Rule

Evidence gained as the result of an illegal search by police cannot be used in a criminal case against the person from whom it was seized.

Executive Agreement

An agreement made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state that has the force of law but which does not require Senate approval (unlike a treaty).

Executive Order

A rule issued by the President or Governor that has the force of law. This rule does not require legislative approval.

Executive Power

The power to execute, enforce, and administer law by the executive branch of government.

Executive Privilege

The principle that members of the executive branch of government cannot legally be forced to disclose their confidential communications when such disclosure would adversely affect the operations or procedures of the executive branch.

Export

A good or service sold to an individual, business, or government in another country.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law applied to an act committed before the law's passage.

Expressed Powers

Powers directly expressed or stated in the Constitution by the Article 1, Section 8, and Paragraph 1-18. Also known as delegated or enumerated powers.

Equal Rights Amendment

Efforts made on behalf of fair treatment and employment rights for women, which gained significant support, however, not enough for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.

Fascism

A political system that calls for extreme nationalism and no tolerance of opposition.

Federalism

A form of political organization in which government power is divided between a central government and state government.

Federalists

Supporters of a stronger central government who advocated ratification of the Constitution. After ratification they founded a political party supporting a strong executive and Alexander Hamilton's economic policies.

Federal Reserve System

The nation's central bank. See monetary policy.

Felony

A term used to distinguish certain high crimes from minor offenses known as misdemeanors.

Filibuster

A procedure used to delay voting in a legislative body by talking and controlling the floor. Only the U.S. Senate can use the filibuster tactic in Congress.

Fiscal Policy

A course of action that seeks to help the economy grow, keeps prices stable, and keeps employment at a high level by affecting the level of taxes and governmental spending in the economy.

Foreign Policy

Politics of the federal government directed to matters beyond United States borders, especially relations with other countries.

Framers of the Constitution

Group of delegates, representing twelve of the thirteen states, who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. (Rhode Island refused to send a delegation.)

Free Trade

Exchange of resources, goods, and services without barriers of trade.

General Election

Election held to determine who will hold political office. In the U.S., general elections are held in November.

General Assembly

The legislative body in the State of Maryland consisting of the Senate and the House of Delegates.

Gerrymandering

The dividing of a geographic area into an electoral district to give an unfair political advantage to a party or group.

Grand Jury

Group that hears charges against a suspect and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring the person to trial.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total dollar value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a given time period.

House of Delegates

The lower house of the state legislature in Maryland.

House of Representatives

The lower house of the U.S. Congress with 435 members.

Impeachment

Charging a public official with a crime in office for which they can be removed from office.

Implied Powers

Powers of the national government that are suggested by the "necessary and proper" clause to carry out the expressed powers listed in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. These powers are not specifically written in the Constitution.

Import

A good or service purchased from an individual, business, or government in another country.

Incorporation Doctrine

The process of incorporating, or including, most of the guarantees in the Bill of Rights to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause which states that, "No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;..."

Incumbent

A person who holds an office.

Indictment

A written, formal statement issued by a grand jury that charges the accused with one or more crimes.

Inflation

This occurs when the measure of overall prices (CPI) shows that prices are rising.

Infrastructure

An underlying base or foundation.

Inherent Powers

Powers delegated to the national government simply because it is a government. The right, power, and procedure by which citizens can propose a law by petition and submit it to the electorate.

Initiative

The right, power, and procedure by which citizens can propose a law by petition and submit it to the electorate.

Integration

The process of bringing a group into equal membership in society.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

This is an international organization of 184 countries established to promote monetary cooperation and exchange stability. The organization also fosters economic growth and high levels of employment and provides temporary financial assistance.

International Committee of the Red Cross

Independent organization striving to assist and protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence.

Interest Groups

An organized body of individuals who share some goals and try to influence public policy to meet those goals.

Isolationism

The views that the United States should withdraw from world affairs, limit foreign aid, and avoid involvement in foreign wars.

Joint Committee

A committee made up of members from the House of Representative and Senate.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government. The precedent for Judicial Review was established in the 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison.

Judicial System

Headed by the Supreme Court of the United States. Designed to interpret law and manage conflicts about the law. In the United States, this is typically referred to as a dual court system as the federal and the state courts address the interpretation of law and manage conflicts about the law.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to rule on certain cases. See appellate and original jurisdiction.

Jury

A jury of 12 persons who decide upon the facts at issue in a criminal trial. A body of individuals selected to determine a verdict using the evidence.

Just Compensation

The full value of a property paid to the owner when property is taken by the government for public use, this is provided for in the 5th Amendment.

Law of Demand

The price and quantity demanded of a resource, good or service are inversely related, other things being equal. As price increases, quantity demanded falls. As price decreases, quantity demands rises.

Law of Supply

The price and quantity supplied of a resource, good, or service are directly related, other things being equal. As price decreases, quantity supplied decreases. As price increases, quantity supplied increases.

Legislative Power

The power to make a law and to frame public policies. Legislative power is typically exercised by legislative bodies such as Congress or the General Assembly.

Legislator

These people are elected at the state and national level by the people to make laws, check and balance the power of the Executive and judicial branches.

Libel

False written or published statements intended to damage a person's reputation.

Liberalism

A 19th century political philosophy, which champions individual rights, civil liberties, and private property. Liberalism typically refers to a willingness to change and to respond to the current time.

Liberty

The ability to enjoy all the rights granted by the United States Constitution and a particular states' constitution, as well as other rights such as the right to earn a living, the right to acquire knowledge, the right to marry, etc.

Limited Government

A higher law such as a constitution which declares it necessary to limit the powers of government in order to protect individual civil liberties, political and economic freedoms. In a limited government, everyone must obey the laws (rule of law).

Lobbyist

A person who represents a special interest group and tries to influence the legislators.

Local/State powers

In the Constitution, power is divided between the national government and the 50 state governments. State governments determine the authority and powers that local governments will have.

Magna Carta

A document drawn up by English nobles in 1215 that spelled out certain rights and limited the King's power.

Majority Rule

A principle of democracy that asserts that the greater number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies.

Mandate

An authoritative order that must be obeyed.

Market Economy

An economy in which decisions of what, how, and for whom are decided in markets through the interaction of buyers and sellers.

Media

The different means of communicating information to reach large audiences.

Mediation

The attempt to settle a legal dispute through active participation of a third party who works to find points of agreement.

Medicaid

A social program that gives the states money to help those who cannot afford to pay for their medical expenses.

Medicare

A social program that helps pay for medical care for the elderly.

Minority Rights

The rights of people who are under-represented, under-served, and generally have fewer numbers and less power than the majority ruling class of people.

Miranda Rule

The rule pronounced in Miranda v Arizona, that confessions are inadmissible in a criminal prosecution if the police do not advise the suspect in custody of certain rights before questioning.

Mixed Economy

An economy which relies on a combination of traditional decision-making, market decision-making, and command decision-making in order to answer the basic questions of what, how, and for whom.

Moderate

The middle position between those generally classified as being conservative or liberal

Monarchy

A form of government in which a sovereign ruler such as a king or a queen heads the country.

Monetary Policy

A course of action that seeks to affect the amount of money and credit available in the economy and the cost of the credit (interest rates) in order to help the economy grow, keeps prices stable, and keeps employment at a high level. In the United States, monetary policy is the responsibility of the Federal Reserve System. Tools of monetary policy include open market operations, adjustments in reserve requirement ratios held on deposits, and influencing changes in the interest rates.

Monopoly

Exclusive ownership through legal privilege, command of supply, or concerted action.

NAFTA

North America Free Trade Agreement. An agreement that removed trade restrictions among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico borders to increase free trade.

National Security

Keeping the nation safe from terrorism.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization was one of the regional organizations formed in the post-World War II era. It was created in 1949 and its members—the United States, Canada, most Western European nations—agreed to combine forces to treat any war against one as a war against all.

Necessary and Proper Clause

This clause grants Congress the Implied powers, which are not set out in words in the Constitution. The clause states that Congress shall have the power "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18)

Negligence

Failure to use a reasonable amount of care when such failure results in injury or damage to another.

Nominate

To propose an individual for election to an office.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which small, usually self-appointed elite, holds the power to rule.

Open Market Operations

The buying and selling government securities by the Federal Reserve.

Opportunity Cost

What you have to give up to get something else. If the class chooses to go to the library to work on their computer skills instead of having recess, then opportunity cost of the choice is having recess.

Out-of-Court Settlement

Negotiations between parties and/or attorneys in which the parties work out a settlement agreement without the judicial system or before a decision has been reached by court.

Original Jurisdiction

The legal authority of a court to be the first to hear a case.

Override

To declare null or void, such as overriding an executive's veto.

Pardon

The official release of a person charged with a crime, at the request of a chief executive, which then excuses the individual from the consequences of an offense or crime.

Parliamentary

A form of government that gives government the authority to a legislature or parliament, which in turn selects the executive from its own members.

Petitioning

A formal written application requesting government action. One may petition a court for a specific judicial action, such as an appeal or a request in a change in policy or a new policy.

Perjury

The act of lying under oath.

Petit Jury

A body of persons selected according to the law who decide upon the facts at issue in a court trial.

Plaintiff

In civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another (the defendant) in court.

Platform

A list of the principles which a political party supports.

Plea Bargaining

The process in which a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser crime than the one with which the defendant was originally charged.

Pocket Veto

The indirect veto of a bill received by the President within ten days of the adjournment of Congress, effected by retaining the bill unsigned until Congress adjourns.

Political Party

Any group, however loosely organized, that seeks to elect government officials under a given label.

Political Action Committees (PAC)

An organization formed to collect money and provide financial support for political candidates that will further their policy goals.

Popular Sovereignty

The rule by the people. Basic principle of the American system of government that asserts that the people are the source of all governmental power and that government can exist only with the consent of the governed.

Preamble

A statement in a constitution that sets forth the goals and purposes of government.

Precedents

A statement in a constitution that sets forth the goals and purposes of government

Precedents

Previous court decisions, which are recognized as guide for future cases.

Presidential

A form of government in which the executive and legislative branches are separate and independent, and equal.

President Pro Tempore

The leader of the Senate when the Vice President is absent.

Primary Election

An election to choose a political party's candidates for an elective office. Its purpose is to narrow down the field of candidates for a particular office.

Prime Minister

The highest-ranking member of the executive branch of a parliamentary government as in Japan and Great Britain.

Principle (Democratic)

A basic rule that guides, influences thought, or action. Democratic principles include such things as rule of law, popular sovereignty, majority rule, and trial by jury.

Preponderance of Evidence

General standard of proof in civil cases. To win, the evidence of one party must be more convincing than the other side's evidence.

Probable Cause

A sufficient reason based upon known facts to believe a crime has been committed. It is required to obtain a search warrant.

Propaganda

To spread a doctrine or opinion by through allegations usually from a particular political party's point of view or purposes.

Prosecutor

A person who prepares and conducts the prosecution of persons accused of crime.

Presumption of Innocence

In criminal law, the principle that a person is innocent of a crime until he is proven guilty.

Procedural Due Process

Procedures used by the government in making, applying, interpreting, and enforcing the law are reasonable and consistent.

Public Policy

Government responses to public issues; all of the goals a government sets.

Quota

The limit on the quantity of a product that may be imported. or A limit on the number of immigrants that may enter a country. orA preferred number of spaces set aside in the work place or education institutions for minorities.

Ratification

Formal approval; final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of political representation of the basis of population changes, usually after a census.

Reasonable Doubt

This refers to the degree of legal certainty required for a juror to find a criminal defendant guilty. Reasonable doubt refers to failure to meet the required degree of certainty in criminal cases.

Recall

A procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office.

Recession

A slowdown in economic activity for a least two consecutive quarters (6 months).

Redistricting

The state's responsibility to set up new election district lines after reapportionment is complete.

Referendum

Process in which a measure passed by a legislature is submitted to the voters for final approval or rejection.

Region

An area with one or more common characteristics of features, which give it a measure of homogeneity and make it different from surrounding areas.

Regional Cooperation

Areas working together to achieve a common goal.

Regulatory Agencies

Governmental jurisdictions or departments that issue laws, ordinances, and other regulations that organizations, businesses, groups, and governments must comply with.

Repeal

Removal or reversal of an authoritative action such as a law.

Representative Democracy

A type of government in which the people choose representatives to vote and make laws for them.

Reprieve

A delay of punishment.

Republic

A government in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers that exercise authority for them and that are responsible to them (voters).

Reserved Powers

Those powers that belong to the states, which the Constitution does not grant to the national government and does not, at the same time, deny to the states.

Revenue

The total income of a business or a unit of government.

Rule of Law

The principle in which the law applies to government officials as much as to ordinary citizens.

Rural

Areas often referred to as the “country” characterized by low population.

Sanction

Penalties to force compliance with a regulation.

Scarcity

The condition that results from the imbalance between relatively unlimited economic wants and the relatively limited resources, goods, and services available to satisfy those wants.

Search Warrant

A court order signed by a judge describing a specific place to be searched for specific items.

Segregation

The separation of or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic group from the rest of society.

Select Committee

A temporary committee.

Senate

The upper house of Congress comprised of 100 members.

Separate-but-equal Doctrine

Doctrine that laws that separate were constitutional as long as the opportunity or treatment was the same for both groups. This doctrine was established on the precedent of the Plessey v. Ferguson ruling.

Separation of Powers

The division of governmental power among several institutions such as the branches of government that must cooperate in decision-making.

Shortage (Market Shortage)

In economics a market situation in which the price is set below the equilibrium price, thus causing the quantity demanded to exceed the quantity supplied.

Slander

False and malicious use of spoken words to injury a reputation.

Smart Growth (Priority Places)

Government policy in Maryland to address the issues of urban sprawl, urban decay, and environmental concerns such as the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Social Contract

This is the theory that a nation exists due to the will of the people and that the power stays with the people, which the nation protects.

Social Insurance

Government programs designed to help elderly, ill, and unemployed citizens as in Social Security or Medicare.

Social Security (Act)

A law requiring workers and employers to pay a tax for benefits to be received in the future; the money provides a monthly stipend for retired people.

Socioeconomic Goals

Broad social goals that relate to economics and guide government, individuals, and society in making decisions. Social economic goals will vary in priority from one country to another and from one time period to another, depending on the nature of the political, social, and economic goals of the society and the political, social, and economic conditions, which exist at the time.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

Special Interest Groups

An organized body of individuals who share some goals and try to influence public policy to meet those goals.

Stagflation

Sluggish economic growth coupled with a high rate of inflation and unemployment

Standard Burdens of Proof

This includes, "beyond a reasonable doubt" in criminal and in civil law, "preponderance of the evidence."

Standing Committee

A permanent committee.

State of the Union

Annual message which the President of the United States gives to Congress.

Subpoena

A legal document that orders a person appears and/or produces documents or other requested materials for a trial.

Subsidies

Financial assistance granted by a government to an individual or a private business.

Substantive Due Process

The substance and the policies of governmental action. Courts examine whether or not a government action has violated a basic freedom or liberty.

Suburban

The usually residential region around a major city.

Supremacy Clause

Established the Constitution as “the supreme law of the land.”

Supreme Court

Highest court in the land created and described by the Constitution in Article III.

Surplus (Market Surplus)

A market situation in which the price is set above the equilibrium price causing the quantity to be demanded less.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Symbolic Speech

Expression or communication of ideas; through conduct, facial expressions, body language, such as carrying a sign or wearing an armband.

Tariff

A list or system of duties imposed by a government on imported or exported goods.

Tax

Mandatory payment to the government, imposed on individuals, groups, and businesses to enable government to provide services.

Testimony

A form of evidence that is obtained from a witness.

Theocracy

A system of government in which a single religion is recognized by the government and controls the government.

Third Party

A party other than one of the two dominant parties (Democrat/Republican) in a two-party political system.

Title IX

A part of the 1972 Education Act stating that no person may be denied the benefits of a federally funded educational program or activity based on his or her gender.

Tort

A wrongful act, other than breach of contract, for which an injured party has the right to sue.

Totalitarian

Exercising dictatorial (authoritarian) power by government for nearly every aspect of human life.

Traditional Economy

A system wherein economic decisions that people and groups make to answer the basic economic questions of "what"," for whom" and "how" generally repeat the decisions made at an earlier time or by an earlier generation.

Treason

Betrayal of one's country; in the Constitution, by levying war against the United States or offering comfort or aid to its enemies.

Treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states.

Tyranny

A type of government in which all the power is held in the hands of one ruler, usually a military leader.

Unconstitutional

Contrary to constitutional provision and therefore illegal, null and void, and of no constitutional or legal force or effort.

Unemployment

When a person is available to work and currently seeking work, but cannot find work.

Unitary Government

A centralized system in which all powers of government belongs to a single, central agency.

United Nations (UN)

After World War II, an international organization was formed to replace the League of Nations that hoped to settle disputes between nations and prevent any future wars. Its goals have expanded today to include humanitarian efforts, social and economic development, protecting human rights.

Unlimited Government

A government in which there are no effective controls over the powers of its rulers who cannot be easily removed from office by peaceful and legal means.

Urban

City, densely populated

Urbanization

The conversion of open space (rural land) into built-up, developed land over time.

Urban Sprawl

Sprawl is the spreading out of a city and its suburbs over more and more rural land at the periphery of an urban area. This involves the conversion of open space (rural land) into built-up, developed land over time.

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature; literally (Latin), "I forbid"

Voting Rights Act (1965)

The federal law passed in 1965 to require that the states protect the rights of each citizen to vote under the 15th Amendment to the United States Constriction. The law eliminated the use of literacy tests as a voting requirement nationwide.

War Powers Act

In 1973, Congress passed this resolution, that requires that the President consult with and seek Congressional approval for deploying U.S. troops in hostile situations. The President may deploy troops for 60 days upon which Congress can order that the troops be removed from hostile situations.

Welfare

The organized efforts of government agencies that grant aid to the poor, the unemployed, etc.

Winner-Take-All

Whichever candidate receives a majority of the vote, or a plurality of the popular vote (less than 50 percent but more than any other candidate) takes all of the State's electoral votes.

Witness

Someone who is called to give evidence and testifies in front of a court.

World Bank

One of the world's largest sources of development assistance with helping the poorest people and the poorest countries.

Writ of Certiorari

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review; from the Latin, meaning, "to be more certain."

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A court order to require that an individual accused of a crime to appear in court to determine whether he or she has been legally detained.

Zoning Board

A group that determines how land will be used.