Civics And Government: Social Studies Terms Explained
Plain-language definitions of every civics and government term your child meets in school, each with kid-friendly explanations, worked examples, and common mistakes to watch for.
Amendment
An amendment is a formal change or addition to a law, legal document, or the Constitution that is made through an official process.
Anarchy
Anarchy is a situation where there is no recognized government or authority in charge, so there are no clear, enforced rules for how people must behave together.
Articles of confederation
The articles of confederation were the first written plan of government for the United States, used from 1781 to 1789, which created a weak national government and gave most power to the individual states until it was replaced by the U.S.
Ballot
A ballot is the official tool a voter uses to make choices in an election, usually a paper or electronic form that lists candidates and questions and records each person's vote privately.
Bill becomes a law
How a bill becomes a law is the step-by-step process a proposed idea for a new rule, called a bill, goes through in government before it is officially approved and enforced as a law.
Branches of government
Branches of government are the main parts of a government that divide power and responsibilities, usually into lawmaking, law-carrying-out, and law-interpreting roles, so that no single part becomes too powerful.
Campaign
A campaign is an organized effort over a period of time to reach a specific goal, such as winning an election or getting support for a law or cause.
Candidate
A candidate is a person who is trying to be chosen for a job or position, especially in an election where people vote to decide who will serve in government.
Checks and balances
Checks and balances is the system in a government where each branch has specific powers to limit, or "check," the other branches so that no one branch becomes too powerful.
Citizen
A citizen is a legally recognized member of a community, state, or country who has certain rights, protections, and responsibilities under that government.
Citizenship
Citizenship is the legal and social relationship between a person and a country, which gives the person certain rights, protections, and responsibilities as a member of that community.
Civic duty
A civic duty is a responsibility that people have to help their community and country work properly, such as obeying laws, paying taxes, serving on a jury, or voting when they are old enough.
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are basic individual freedoms, such as speech, religion, and privacy, that the government is not allowed to unfairly limit or take away, usually protected by a constitution or bill of rights.
Civil rights
Civil rights are the basic rights that protect people from unfair treatment by the government, businesses, or other people, and that guarantee equal treatment and opportunity under the law.
Communism
Communism is a political and economic system in which the government or the whole community is meant to own and control property and businesses, with the goal of creating a society where people share resources and there are no large differences between rich and poor.
Congress
Congress is the lawmaking branch of the United States federal government, made up of two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives, that writes and passes national laws and oversees the other branches.
Constitution
A constitution is the highest set of written rules that explains how a government is organized, what powers it has, and what rights the people have that the government must respect.
Declaration of independence
The declaration of independence is a document adopted on July 4, 1776, in which leaders of the 13 American colonies announced they were breaking away from Great Britain and explained their reasons, including the belief that all people have basic rights that governments must respect.
Democracy
Democracy is a form of government in which political power comes from the people, who have the right to take part in decisions, usually by voting for leaders and laws.
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is a form of government in which one person, or a very small group, holds almost all political power and rules without being chosen in free, fair elections or being limited by strong laws.
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in which citizens vote on laws and important decisions themselves, instead of only choosing leaders to decide for them.
Due process
Due process is the legal rule that the government must treat people fairly by following clear, established procedures before taking away a person’s life, freedom, or property.
Election
An election is a formal process where people vote to choose leaders or decide on public questions, and the option with the most support under the rules in place wins.
Electoral college
The electoral college is the system the United States uses to choose the president and vice president, where each state gets a certain number of electors who cast official votes based on how people in that state vote.
Executive branch
The executive branch is the part of government that carries out and enforces laws, led at the national level by the president and supported by many departments and agencies.
Federal government
The federal government is the national level of government for the whole United States that handles issues affecting the entire country, such as national defense, printing money, and making and enforcing laws that apply in every state.
Federalism
Federalism is a system of government where power is shared between a central (national) government and smaller regional governments, such as states, so that each level has its own responsibilities and authority.
Federalist papers
The federalist papers are a series of 85 essays written in 1787 and 1788 to persuade Americans to support the new U.S.
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the right of people in the United States to express their opinions and ideas without punishment from the government, as long as they follow certain laws and do not harm others.
Government
Government is the system of people, laws, and institutions that makes and enforces rules for a community, state, or country and provides services to help keep people safe and organized.
Governor
A governor is the elected leader of a U.S. state who is in charge of the state’s executive branch, signs or vetoes state laws, and oversees how state laws and programs are carried out.
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