#separator:tab #html:false #tags column:4 Government The people and system that make and enforce laws for a community or nation civics-vocabulary Citizen A legal member of a country civics-vocabulary Citizenship Being a member of a country with rights and duties civics-vocabulary Democracy Government by the people, usually through voting civics-vocabulary Republic A government with elected representatives and a constitution civics-vocabulary Monarchy Rule by a king or queen civics-vocabulary Dictatorship Rule by one person with total power civics-vocabulary Constitution The basic plan and laws of a government civics-vocabulary Law A rule made by the government that everyone must follow civics-vocabulary Right Something you are free to do or have civics-vocabulary Responsibility Something you should do civics-vocabulary Duty A task you are required to do civics-vocabulary Liberty Freedom civics-vocabulary Justice Fair treatment under the law civics-vocabulary Equality Being treated the same under the law civics-vocabulary Authority The power to make decisions and be obeyed civics-vocabulary Power The ability to make things happen civics-vocabulary Rule of law Everyone follows the same laws, including leaders civics-vocabulary Legislature A group that makes laws civics-vocabulary Executive The part of government that carries out laws civics-vocabulary Judiciary The courts civics-vocabulary Federal National, as opposed to state or local civics-vocabulary State One of the 50 divisions of the US with its own government civics-vocabulary Local government City, town or county government civics-vocabulary Mayor Head of a city government civics-vocabulary Governor Head of a state government civics-vocabulary Council A group of officials who make local laws civics-vocabulary Representative A person elected to speak and act for others civics-vocabulary Senator A member of the Senate civics-vocabulary Ambassador Official sent to represent a country abroad civics-vocabulary Candidate Person running for office civics-vocabulary Campaign Efforts to win an election civics-vocabulary Election A vote to choose leaders or decide an issue civics-vocabulary Ballot The paper or screen used to cast a vote civics-vocabulary Vote A choice made in an election civics-vocabulary Voter registration Signing up to vote civics-vocabulary Polling place Where people go to vote civics-vocabulary Primary election A vote to choose a party's candidate civics-vocabulary General election A vote to choose among candidates from different parties civics-vocabulary Majority More than half civics-vocabulary Minority Less than half; also a smaller group civics-vocabulary Referendum A direct vote by citizens on a law or issue civics-vocabulary Initiative A way for citizens to propose a law by gathering signatures civics-vocabulary Political party A group that organizes to win elections and shape government civics-vocabulary Platform A party's list of goals and positions civics-vocabulary Interest group A group that tries to influence government decisions civics-vocabulary Lobbying Trying to influence lawmakers civics-vocabulary Media News sources that inform the public civics-vocabulary Public opinion What most people think about issues civics-vocabulary Poll A survey of people's opinions civics-vocabulary Petition A written request signed by many people civics-vocabulary Protest A public demonstration of disagreement civics-vocabulary Boycott Refusing to buy something as a protest civics-vocabulary Civil rights Rights to equal treatment under the law civics-vocabulary Civil liberties Basic freedoms protected from government action civics-vocabulary Discrimination Unfair treatment because of identity civics-vocabulary Segregation Forced separation of groups civics-vocabulary Suffrage The right to vote civics-vocabulary Amendment A change to a constitution civics-vocabulary Ratify To approve formally civics-vocabulary Veto To reject a bill civics-vocabulary Impeach To charge an official with wrongdoing civics-vocabulary Override To pass a bill despite a veto civics-vocabulary Treaty An agreement between nations civics-vocabulary Diplomacy Handling relations between countries peacefully civics-vocabulary Sovereignty A nation's right to govern itself civics-vocabulary Immigrant Person who moves to a new country to live civics-vocabulary Naturalization Process of becoming a citizen civics-vocabulary Tax Money paid to the government civics-vocabulary Budget A plan for earning and spending money civics-vocabulary Public service Work done for the community civics-vocabulary Volunteer Person who works without pay to help others civics-vocabulary Jury Citizens who decide a verdict civics-vocabulary Verdict Decision of a jury or judge civics-vocabulary Defendant Person accused in court civics-vocabulary Plaintiff Person who brings a lawsuit civics-vocabulary Prosecutor Lawyer who brings charges for the government civics-vocabulary Judge Official who runs a court civics-vocabulary Testify To give evidence in court civics-vocabulary Common good What benefits everyone in a community civics-vocabulary Compromise Each side gives up something to agree civics-vocabulary Consensus General agreement civics-vocabulary Civic engagement Taking part in community and public life civics-vocabulary Bipartisan Involving two political parties civics-vocabulary Constituent A voter represented by an official civics-vocabulary Term The length of time an official serves civics-vocabulary Incumbent Person currently holding an office civics-vocabulary