Exam Key Terms Flashcards
Citizen
An official member of a country who has met the requirements for citizenship and is entitled to its protection, rights and privileges.
Responsibility
The duty that citizens agree to fulfill as members of a larger community (ex. obeying a law)
Discrimination
The practice of treating a person or group of people unfairly.
Human Rights
Rights believed to belong to every person from birth; they do not come from law.
Privilege
A special right, advantage or immunity given only to a person or group
Active Citizen
Someone who is informed about social issues and engaged in working to improve his or her community, province, territory or country.
Rights
A legal or national entitlement to have, say or do something which may or may not be based in law.
Prejudice
An opinion formed beforehand (preconceived) that is not based on facts or actual experience.
Needs
The necessities you require because they are essential.
Wants
Have a desire to do or possess, but is not necessary.
Tax
Required contributions to government revenue on top of normal costs.
Budget
An estimate of income and expenses for a set period of time.
Surplus
The amount left over when requirements have been met. (A government has this when they take in (have) more money than they spend)
Deficit
The amount that is less than what is needed or required. (A government has this when they spend more money than they have)
Revenue
Income received.
Political Spectrum
A way of classifying perspectives on how government should work. A left-to-right political spectrum is a way of showing differences in basic beliefs, values and attitude about how government should work.
Democracy
The form of government in which political control is exercised by all the people, either directly or through their elected representatives. The word democracy itself means rule by the people.
Politics
The activities associated with the governance of a country.
Election
A formal and organized choice by vote of a person for political office.
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is when one person or group has total power, normally from a military takeover and they govern from a one party system.
Constitutional Monarchy
A monarchy that is limited by laws and a constitution. Canada and Britain have constitutional monarchies: the Queen is the Head of State or Sovereign but the Prime Minister is the head of Government.
Candidate
A person who is hoping to be elected.
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to cast votes in an election. It is usually a piece of paper where people mark an X or check mark beside the candidate’s name they are voting for.
Party Platform
A party platform is how a party intends to run the government- its objectives and intended results. Most platforms cover a large number of areas of government.
Creepers
A creeper is someone who prowls all your social media handles to collect information and photos of/about you.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is when people use the internet to embarrass or harm another person in various ways.
Doxing
Doxing is the act of sharing identifying information like addresses, phone numbers, names, etc of other people.
Social Media
Websites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.
Digital Footprint
One’s overall impact, impression or effect as manifested on the internet; online presence or visibility, as a person or company.
Activism
Taking action to bring about political or social change.
Advocate
To give public support to a cause or point of view.
Apathy
Apathy essentially means not caring or feelings of indifference (lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern).
Donate
To give money, goods or services for a cause to a charity.
Educate
To inform others on the need for change.
Communicate
To let others know your opinion or point of view about an issue.
Agitate
To raise public concern about an issue in the hope of prompting action.
Ethics
Moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or conduct.
Ethical Dilemma
A situation in which there is no clear right or wrong course of action.
Ethical Considerations
A political thinking concept that looks at the moral worth of a particular policy, action, or law, and tries to discern what is “right” or “wrong” in a given situation.
Evidence
A political thinking concept that looks at and tries to assess the facts that underlie a particular policy, law, or action.
Bias(ed)
Having a preference for one perspective or opinion over another.
Propaganda
Claims or arguments that distort or misrepresent the truth or include false information.
