Goal 1 Definitions2/10/10

Albany Plan Union

The plan was to make all of the colonies into a union that was under one representative government.

Aristocracy

A type of government where the power lies in the hands of the people with greater value.

Boston Massacre

Is depicted as a very brutal killing of innocent people.

Common Sense

In the year 1776, in the month of January, Thomas Paine made a pamphlet. In the pamphlet he made, it talked about independence.

French and Indian War

In the year 1754, the tension between the French and British began to rise. But it is called the French and Indian War because it was fought between the French and the native Americans. They fought for nine years, after that France surrendered.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

The new colony that was established in Connecticut made these laws. It explained that that the power for their government came only from the free consent of the people.

Middle Colonies

The middle colonies were New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware

New England Colonies

These colonies are Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

New Jersey Plan

This plan also called for the same three branches, the delegates form this. It also wanted only the legislative branch to consist of one house with each state getting a single vote.

Northwest Ordinance

This divided areas into a smaller areas of territory and provided guidelines under the news states that could be accepted into the union.

Oligarchy

A type of government in which the power is rested by a small group of people.

Royal Colonies

These colonies are colonies that were directly established by the king.

Southern Colonies

The Southern Colonies are Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Theocracy

A type of government that is based off of religious reasons.

Virginia Plan

This proposed of a federal government that produced three branches, the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Edmund Randolph and James Madison proposed this plan.

Goal 2Definitions

Central Intelligence Agency

A independent agency responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest.

Corporate Tax

These are taxes that are placed on businesses.

Direct Tax

A tax that is paid directly to the government income taxes.

Enumerated Powers

These are the powers that the government specifically has spelled out

Excise Tax

These are the taxes that are placed on specific products.

Expenditures

These are the types of things that federal government has to pay for.

Filibuster

This is a tactic that the senator uses to delay a vote on the a bill he/she fears will no longer continue

Income Tax

A type of tax that is placed on the income citizens earn.

Limited Government

The government has to obey a body of laws; it is not free do what it pleases to do.

Progressive Tax

The percentage increases as the income increases.

Proportional Tax

Is when everyone pays the same percentage.

Regressive Tax

Take a larger percentage of income from the people who earn less money.

Reprieves

A reprieve delays the implementation of a sentence.

Supremacy Clause

It established the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

Tariffs

Taxes that are placed on products that are imported from foreign countries.

Goal 3Definitions

Cabinet

Consists of the heads of various state departments (appointed)

City Council

A municipal body that can pass ordinances (laws for the city) and other funds.

Council-Manager Plan

The citizens elect a council, after the council is elected they hire a city manager.

Fifteenth Amendment

This amendment ensures the voting rights of the citizens.

Gerrymandering

Districts are drawn for the purpose of ensuring elections.

NC Supreme Court

The highest court in the state.

Nineteenth Amendment

The right to vote should not be denied just because of the difference of genders.

Redistricting

After every ten years, the states redraw state and congressional districts.

Referendum

A vote that is in favor of changing the Constitution.

Register of Deeds

The responsibility for issues that involves real estate.

Goal 4

Arbitration

Often used by parties who feel that the judicial process is too slow or expensive.

Coalition

The banding together of different groups for the purpose of achieving political process.

Electoral College

Purpose is to elect the president every four years. It’s not the people of the government that directly votes the president, but it’s the electoral college.

Majority Vote

When a party must win majority of the votes cast in order to win the election.

Mediation

Is when the two disputing sides invite a third party to help them find a solution.

Partisan Election

Clearly states what party the candidate belong to.

Patronage

Promises a certain position to individuals in exchange for support.

Penal Code

The acts that are defined as criminal laws in a specific state, and the penalties that go along with the crime are referred to as this.

Plank

An individual policy that is within the platform.

Platform

The party’s statement of programs and policies it will pursue once its candidates are in office.

Plurality Vote

A vote in which a candidate takes more votes than any other candidate without winning the majority vote.

Political Activism

Refers to the act of being politically involved.

Political Process

Procedures that are followed to resolve important issues that effect a large number of people.

Primary Election

Voters choose between candidates that are within the same party.

Recall Election

Is an election that is called to determine if voters want to remove a sitting official from office before his/her elected term is up.

Goal 5

Arraignment

The defendant if officially informed of the charges against him/her.

Arrest warrant

In many misdemeanor cases, the law enforcement has to have a legal document that allows them to arrest the suspect.

Cloture

Is when the process of the filibuster is closed and a vote can finally occur.

Grand jury

Special juries that hear evidence that is presented by a prosecutor to decide if a trial is warranted.

Indictment

A formal charge that someone has committed a felony.

Preliminary hearing

Determines if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.

Proposal

The idea for a new law.

Public hearing

Allow citizens who have a special interest or strong feelings about a bill to be heard prior to the committee taking action.

Subpoena

Legal documents ordering a particular person to appear in court to testify.

Writ of certiorari

The power of higher courts to request that certain lowers court decisions be referred to them for review.

Goal 6

Administrative Law

The law that governs the operation of government agencies

Civil Law

Law concerned with relationships between individuals, businesses, organizations, etc.

Constitutional Law

Deals with interpretations and practical applications of the US Constitution

Criminal Law

Define what actions are criminal acts against the state

Deterrence

Is meant to prevent future crimes from happening

Family Law

Types of law that the family make up which is a type of civil law

International Law

A type of public law; it deals with the laws that apply to all nations

Iroquois LeagueIn the late 1500’s, the Iroquois tribes of the

northeast usually were at war with one another; they agreed to stop fighting each other. They joined to together to make this league; it made them the dominant tribe to most of the east Native American people. They also inspired Benjamin Franklin which caused him to make the Albany Plan of Union

Legal Code

Set of written laws, rules for implementing those laws, and punishments for violating laws

Moral Code

Set of guidelines stating what is normally right/wrong, and directing people how they should live

Public Law

Any area of law dealing directly with relationships between individuals, businesses, organizations, or the government

Retribution

Is concerned with punishing a person convicted of a crime

Goal 7

Automation

Process of replacing human labor with machines.

Capital

Refers to all the structures and equipment involved in the manufacturing process.

Capitalism

Ownership of capital producing firms; consumers and producers must own goods, services, and resources they exchange and use for production.

Command Economy

Economy where prices and production are controlled by the government.

Division of Labor

The act of splitting up work into smaller and more specialized tasks.

Incentive

Are what motivate economic decisions.

Labor

The contribution of human workers to the production process.

Land

Includes the property on which a production plant is built, and other natural resources that are involved.

Mixed Economy

Elements of both free-market and command economies.

Specialization

The devotion of certain resources to a specific task.

Goal 8

Command Economy

The government owns the facilities of production.

Demand

Refers to how much the consumer wants the good.

Innovations

Any invention or change in process that improves something that already exists.

Inventions

Are new products that are made, or that are released for sale.

Market Economy

Producers and consumers determine what gets made and for whom.

Mixed Economy

Have the elements of both command and market economy.

Patent

Guaranteed ownership of an invention, innovation, or production technique for a specified amount of time.

Traditional Economy

Is a type of economy that has existed for years; the economy is based off of old traditions and techniques of making money.

Unlimited Liability

The owner has full responsibility for all debts encountered within the business.

Unlimited Life

The business continues even if the owner of the business dies.

Goal 9

Discount Rate

Is the interest rate that banks and other financial institutions pay the Fed in order to borrow money.

Expansion

The steady ride up of an economy.

Inflation

A sudden raise in the price of a certain good.

Interdependence

Economies that rely on one another to help uphold their country.

Interest Rate

A percentage that determines how much money a person must pay a lender in exchange for a loan.

National Debt

The amount of money that is owed by the federal government.

Recession

The business/country is in great debt, and is losing money.

Tariffs

Taxes that are placed on products imported from another country.

Taxation

When taxes are required to be paid by the people.

Trough

It is the lowest point of employment, and ability to make money effectively.

Goal 10

Acid Rain

The process in which chemicals released into the atmosphere are absorbed as water droplets in clouds.

Compromise

Citizens who disagree being willing to give up a little of what they want to reach a solution most can live with.

Earning Capacity

Is the amount of income that one is likely to earn in a life time.

Effective Citizenship

Is citizenship which helps to build up society and enables the US political and judicial systems to function as intended under the Constitution.

Fiscal Responsibilities

Responsibilities that have to deal with money.

Immigration

The process of foreigners coming into the United States.

Legal Responsibilities

Involve obeying the laws of the United States, and their city.

Liberty

Guarantees that citizens can live their own lives without the arbitrary intervention of the US government.

Moral Responsibilities

The responsibilities one feels to live by certain religious convictions, maintain her/his integrity, honor a promise.

Personal Responsibilities

Are those responsibilities one has, not to society as a whole, but to oneself or a selected few.