The Little Book On Line

The Little Book On Line
A Study Guide for the Ohio Ninth-Grade Citizenship Proficiency Test

GLOSSARY

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ABOLISH
To put an end to. Slavery is no longer permissible in the United States. The right to own slaves has been abolished.
ABRIDGE
To limit or reduce, to shorten.
ABSOLUTE MONARCH
A king or queen whose decision-making power is not limited in any way, such as by other people or a constitution. In the U.S., the Congress can vote against the decisions of the President; an absolute monarch has total power without any restrictions.
ABSOLUTE POWER
Power not limited by a set of laws or by any right of the people to have a say in the government. Our Constitution is a set of laws which would prevent anyone from gaining absolute power in the United States. A dictatorship is based on absolute power. (See DICTATOR)
ALIEN
A resident of a country who is not a citizen; a foreigner. A person who lives in this country, but because he has not been naturalized is not a citizen and cannot vote. (See NATURALIZATION)
ALLEGIANCE
One's loyalty to a person, group or nation.
AMENDMENT
A legally adopted addition to, or deletion (subtraction) from, a law or body of laws, such as the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution provides (spells out) how it can be amended. An amendment may be proposed by Congress, or by a convention called by Congress, upon request of the legislatures or 2/3 of the states. To become effective it must be ratified (approved) by the legislatures, or by conventions in 3/4 of the states.
ANARCHY
Anarchy exists when there is no form of government control over the people and they do as they please.
ANTI-FEDERALISTS
People who opposed a strong central government and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787-88. They were afraid that the Constitution proposed by the Federalists would end up being too much like the oppressive British rule which they had fought and died to get rid of. This turned out not to be the case and the Constitution has proved to be a wonderfully workable document.
APARTHEID
An official policy (now ended) of racial segregation and white supremacy enforced by the South African government. "Apartheid" means "apartness," separation of the people according to their race. In South Africa it was used to limit the governing power and place of residence of non-white people.
APPEAL
The transfer of a case from a lower to a higher court for a new hearing. The higher court will then decide whether to overrule the decision of the lower court or to let it stand.
APPOINT
To name to office, or to place in a non-elected position. The President appoints his cabinet officers and others to operate the various departments of government.
APPORTIONMENT
The determination of how many congressional representatives each state can elect. The size of the population determines the number.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
The first constitution of the newly independent American states. It was drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781, and replaced by the U.S. Constitution. It was writeen in Philadelphia by a committee of the Second Continental Congress, and had to be approved by all of the 13 states. It set up the first central govenment of the new nation and was the law of the land until the present U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1789.
ASSEMBLY
The Bill of Rights of the Constitution guarantees freedom to assemble, that is, the right of people to meet together peaceably.
ASSET
Something of value.

BAIL
Money exchanged for the temporary release of an arrested person as a guarantee that the person will appear for trial. For example, if someone should be arrested and put in jail, he or she would probably have to stay there until the trial takes place in court. But if someone puts up money or property satisfactory to the court as a guarantee that the accused person will appear in court for trial, the court usually will release the person from jail until the trial.
BIAS
A tendency to favor one side of an issue or situation too much, often resulting in unfair judgment (partiality). For example, a company might have a bias towards hiring more men than women.
BICAMERAL
Having two legislative houses or chambers. The Congress of the United States is bicameral. The Capitol in Washington, D.C. has two chambers, or large rooms, in which the Senate and House of Representatives sit to do their work. The word bicameral comes from the Latin word camera which means room. Bi means two, as in bicycle--two cycles or wheels. Bi at the beginning of a word usually means two.
BILL
A proposed law. This word when used in connection with passing laws in Congress or State legislatures, means the draft of the law (usually printed) proposed for passage by the Congress or legislature.
BILL OF RIGHTS
The first ten amendments to the United States Constituion. The original Constitution consisted of seven Articles, mostly providing for the organization and working of our national government. Soon after the original Constitution adopted the first ten amendments were added to prohibit the national government from taking away or limiting various rights and freedoms of the citizens, such as the right of free speech, freedom of worship, freedom of the press, etc.
BOARD OF ELECTIONS
The body (office) which registers voters and conducts elections. This office signs up voters, prints the ballots, and counts the votes in its community.
BOYCOTT
An organized refusal to buy, sell, or associate with a person, business, or nation. Designed to force policy changes through economic and social pressure. For example, a group organized together can refuse to buy the products of a certain company hoping to bring about a change in its unfair treatment of its workers.

CABINET
The President carries out the laws passed by Congress and he or she does this through many departments such as the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Labor, and so forth. The President appoints a head of each dpartment with the consent of the Senate and often meets with these heads as a group. They are referred to as the "Cabinet".
CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
Written material which is distributed to influence voters during political campaigns.
CANDIDATE
A person running for a specific elective office; a person who is voted upon in an election.
CAPITAL
A city or town that is the official seat of government of a state or nation. The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. D.C. stands for the District of Columbia. The capital of Ohio is Columbus. The word capital can also mean money or property invested in a business.
CAPITALISM
An economic system based on a free market, open competition, profit motive and private ownership of the means of production. The market determines the type, quantity, and price of goods. The government is to avoid interfering in the economy. The United States has a capitalistic system. (See COMMUNISM; SOCIALISM)
CAUCUS
A meeting held by political members to decide strategy and nominate candidates for an upcoming election. For example, party caucuses (conferences) are held to choose candidates and to plan ways to elect them.
CENSUS
An offical count and survey of the population, conducted in the U.S. every ten years. Census workers not only count people but ask questions about employment, housing, family number, income level etc. to provide useful information about our population.
CHECKS AND BALANCES
A system established in the Constitution so that neither the Executive (the President) nor the Legislative (Congress) nor the Judicial (the Coursts) will become so powerful that it controls the govenment. (See SEPARATION OF POWERS).
CITIZENSHIP
The special status, including duties, rights and privelges given to a member of a nation. Status means what you are and what you're entitled to at a given time and place.
CITY COUNCIL
The elected legislative branch of city government. Legislative branch means that group of people who are elected to establish the laws that govern the city.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
Means taking part in community activities.
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
The refusal to obey laws that are regarded as unjust. Often takes the form of non-violent public protest, such as a group of people blocking the entrance to a building as a form of protest.
CIVIL LAW
The body of law dealing with the private rights of individuals. This body of law deals with such things as marriage, divorce, buying and selling property, etc., and is quite different from Criminal Law which deals with crimes and misdemeanors such as murders, robberies, fraud, etc.
CIVIL RIGHTS
The right of every citizen to be treated equally under the law and to have equality of opportunity. The rights are granted by the Constitution, especially by amendments to the Consititution. (See CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES)
CODE
Code refers to a set of regulations or laws. The building code sets the rules which the building trade must follow in the construtin of homes and other structures.
COIN
To make metal money such as quarters, dimes, etc.
COMMERCE
The buying and selling of goods; business.
COMMISSIONER
An official in charge of some department of government. In Ohio, a commissioner is a county official. There are also commissioners of other organizations, such as a baseball commissioner of a national baseball league.
COMMUNISM
An economic system in which the means of production are owned and operated for the public by the government. The government determines the type, quantity, and price of goods produced. Communism promises to provide for everyone's needs and to have no social classes. Ideally government would not be necessary. (See SOCIALISM; CAPITALISM)
COMPASS ROSE
The symbol on a map which shows the directions--N.S.E.W.
COMPETITION
In economics, the buying or selling of goods and servies by businesses cometing in the same open market. Competition means rivalry, as the competition between athletic teams.
CONFIRM
Approve. For example, the Senate must confirm or approve presidential appointments of federal judges.
CONGRESS
The legislative or law-making body of the United States. Members of Congress (Senators and Members of the House of Representatives) are elected from each state by voters of that state.
CONSENT
To agree to; to give permission. I consent to your going to the rock concert.
CONSERVATIVE
A person who tends to be cautious about new policies or changes in government, who favors traditional values, and who generally feels the government should stay out of the affairs of private citizens and businesses. Traditional values might be described as those that have been around for a while. Conservatives like things the way they are or were. (See LIBERAL).
CONSTITUENTS
The people who live in an elected official's voting district are called constituents. They are the people whom the official represents.
CONSTITUTION
The set of fundamental laws and principles that prescribe the functions, offices, and limits of government. The national government has been created and now functions under our federal constitution. Our state government in Ohio has been created and functions under our state constitution.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
A large meeting, reprenting all states, which is called to hear proposals for amendments to the Constitution. It can be used to refer specifically to the body of men who wrote the original U.S. Constitution. That convention was attended by delegates from all the original thirteen states, except Rhode Island. Today a constitutional convention of delegaes from all the fifty states could be called by Congress to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES
Rights and liberties written into the Constitution. The Constitution guarantess that citizens shall have many rights which cannot be taken away or limited by the national or any state government. Most of these rights have been guaranteed by the amendments, especially the first eight amendments and the 13th, 14th, and 15th amndments.
CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS

ENUMERATED POWERS/DELEGATED POWERS
Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution.
RESERVED POWERS
Powers reserved to the States by the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment provides that the powers not delegated (given) to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people.
CONCURRENT POWERS
Authority shared by both the state and national government. An example is taxation. Our national government levies the federal income tax. Ohio levies a state income tax.
EXCLUSIVE POWERS
A power of government that can only be exercised by one branch or level of government. For example, only the U.S. Congress can make laws regulating interstate commerce (that is, commerce moving across state boundaries).
IMPLIED POWERS
Powers of Congress not specifically stated in the Constitution. The Constitution specifically granted many powers to the national government and provided that the Congress could pass laws necessary and proper for carrying out the stated powers. Early on there was bitter argument about the meaning of this provision. In a great Supreme Court decision (1819), Chief Justice John Marshall held that the provision granted to Congress to carry out the specific powers are referred to as implied powers. (See ELASTIC CLAUSE).
ELASTIC CLAUSE
A clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) that gives Congress the power to pass laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the stated pwers of the United States government. The powers granted to the U.S. Congress by this clause are known as "Implied Powers." (See IMPLIED POWERS).
DENIED POWERS
Powers which a particular level of government is prohibited from exercising. For example, neither the national nor any state government may grant titles of nobility. (In England people may be made dukes, duchesses, earls and so forth, but not over here.) States are not permitted to make treaties with foreign nations. That power is denied the states but is granted to the Federal government.

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
A form of government in which the monarch, or ruler shares authority with an elected legislature. Great Britain has a constitutional monarchy. It has a king or queen and an elected Parliament, similar to our Congress.
CONTINENT
Any of the large land masses of the earth. The United States is located on the continent of North America.
CONVENTION
A formal assembly or meeting. Every four years the Democratic and Republican parties hold conventions to nominate their candidates for President and Vice-President, but there are all sorts of conventions held for all sorts of reasons and organizations. There is usually some kind of convention going on in Cleveland all the time.
COOPERATION
Acting or working together.
COUNSEL
Legal advice; an attorney; a lawyer.
CRITERIA
Criteria are the standards or reasons used in making a decision or a judgment. Certain criteria must be met for admission to the National Honor Society.
CULTURAL
Of or relating to the beliefs, customs, arts and institutions of a given people at a particular time. Because so many different ethnic, racial, religious, and linguistic groups have come to the United States, this county has great cultural diversity.
CUSTOMS DUTY
A tax paid on the value of goods brought into the United States from another country. If you buy something outside this country to bring back, you have to pay a tax on it before you can take it home.

DEBATE
A discussion of the arguments for and against something. A debate is usually rather formal and timed and planned.
DECLARATION
A formal statement or announcement. The Declaration of Independence declared the independence of our thirteen colonies from Great Britain of July 4, 1776.
DEFICIT
Deficit means the amount of money a government spends over the amount of taxes and other income which it receives.
DEFY
To stand up to; to resist.
DELEGATE
A delegate is one who is sent to represent a group of people. A delegate to a Presidential nominating convention represents his or her state, voting on behalf of that state.
DEMOCRACY
Government by the people, either directly or through the election of representatives. We have a democracy in this country. It is also called a republic.
DICTATOR
A ruler who holds absoulte power over the government of a country and who usually rules by force, or the threat of it. Adolph Hitler of Germany was a dictator. So was Mussolini of Italy during World War II.
DISCRIMINATION
Treating one person or group differently from another usually on the basis of race, religion, nationality, sex or certain handicaps. For example, a person in a wheelchair is denied a job, or not hired though he is qualified, because he is in a wheelchair.
DISSENT
To disagree. The word is often used to indicate disagreement with a law or an action by the government.
DISTINGUISH
Distinguish means to tell the difference between two or more things.
DIVERSITY
Differences or variety.
DIVINE PROVIDENCE
The direction or guidance of God.
DOMESTIC
Matters or affairs within a family or a nation. Affairs outside a nation are known as foreign affairs.
DOMINANT
Commanding, controlling or prevailing over all others. If you wear everything purple but your socks, you'd say purple was the dominant color of your outfit.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Trying a person twice for the same crime. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits double jeopardy.
DRAFT
To write a preliminary plan or version of something, such as a bill to be placed before Congress. I have written the first draft of my report.
DUE PROCESS
The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide that a person cannot be deprived of life, liberty or property except through procedures required by law.

ECONOMIC SYSTEM
An economy based on specific goals, ideals or procedures, such as capitalism, communism or socialism.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Not a real college. It is a group of persons called electors, who are chosen by voters in their states to officially elect the President and Vice President. The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of representatives in both houses of Congress.
ELECTORATE
The voters.
ELIGIBLE VOTERS
Those people who have met the state requirements for voting, which normally include being 18, a resident, registered, and a citizen of the United States.
ESTATE TAX
The tax paid on a deceased person's property and possessions. When a person dies leaving property (for example, a house, jewelry, money, stocks, or bonds) the Federal government and the State of Ohio tax the value of that property.
ETHNIC
Ethnic refers to your cultural heritage and background. If you are part of an ethnic group, it means you have a history and live a lifestyle that identifies you with a particular culture, country, religion, or race.
ETHNIC PREJUDICE
A negative (unfriendly) attitude toward an ethnic group.
EVALUATE
To consider or judge the value or importance of something; to appraise.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The branch of local, state or federal government that is responsible for carrying out laws. Enforcing laws or executing laws is another way of saying this. The President heads the excutive branch of the federal government. The Governor heads the executive branch of the Ohio government, and the Mayor heads the executive branch of the City of Cleveland government.
EXPORTS
Products sent out of the country for sale to foreigners.

FACT
Something known with certainty or based on proof.
FEDERAL
Having to do with the national government.
FEDERALISM
A political system in which authority is divided between a central government and regional governments. For example, in forming the United States under the Constitution, the states gave up many powers to the national government.
FEDERALISTS
Persons who support strong central governments. When the Constitution was drafted there were many who wanted the national government to have much greater power than the states and others who wanted the states to retain much more power than was finally left to them.
FILIBUSTER
An attempt to defeat a bill (proposed law), especially in the Senate, by talking at length, which prevents further discussion of or voting on a bill. For example, when a group in the Senate is against passing a bill which they do not have enough votes to defeat, they use the filibuster to keep the bill from coming to a vote.
FOREIGN
Relating to or located in a country other than one's own.
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
The right to express one's views through the media. This is a right guaranteed (protected) under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It means that one can speak out through newspapers, magazines, TV and radio without fear of being arrested. In many countries you can be put in jail and even shot for doing this.
FREE ENTERPRISE
A system by which people can conduct business free of government control except for reasonable regulations made for the public good.
FUNCTION
As it relates to a person or organization, the word means the duty, activity or job of that person or organization.
FUNDAMENTAL
Basic. Honesty is a fundamental if you wish to be considered reliable.

GENDER
Another term for male or female.
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
Numbers based on latitude (lines running east and west) and longitude (lines running north and south) that identify the location of a place on a map.

GOVERNOR
The person elected chief executive officer of a state in the United States.
GRAND JURY
A selected group of people who meet in private to listen to evidence about a person charged with a crime and to decide whether that person should be tried in court.
GRIEVANCES
Complaints related to a specific situation or set of circumstances. Striking workers often present their employers with a list of grievances such as poor working conditions, not enough time for lunch, etc.
GUARANTEE
To make secure; to protect. The First Amendment guarantees my right of free speech. It protects me against being arrested for expressing my point of view.

HEMISPHERE
One of the two halves that a sphere is divided into when a plane (flat surface) passes through its center. For example, the equator divides the earth into northern and southern hemispheres and the prime meridian divides it into eastern and western hemispheres. The western hemisphere is the half of the earth which includes North and South America.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The lower body of Congress. It has 435 members. Each state is entitled to elect a number of Representatives proportional to its population, so states with the largest populations have the largest number of Representatives.

IMMIGRANT
A person who leaves his or her native country to settle in another country. This person is an emigrant in the records of the country he leaves and an immigrant in the records of the country he enters.
IMPARTIAL
Not taking sides. My mother has always tried to be impartial in settling family arguments.
INCARCERATED
Legally confined to an area; put in jail.
INCOME TAX
A tax based on the amount of a person's annual income. The Federal government collects income tax through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Some states and cities also collect income tax.
INCUMBENT
A person currently (at the present time) holding a political office.
INDEPENDENT
A person who is not committed to any one political party.
INDEPENDENCE
Freedom from outside control. The American colonies declared their independence from England.
INDICTMENT
A formal statement presented by a prosecuting attorney or grand jury that lists the charges against a person accused of a crime. The word is pronounced in-dite-ment.
INFLUENCE
To have an effect upon something or someone.
INHERIT
To receive something, such as property, money, or power from someone after he or she dies.
INHERITANCE TAX
A tax on the inheritance of property of a person who has died.
INITIATIVE
An electoral procedure through which citizens can propose a new law or reject an existing law by petitioning the government for referendum. Referendum is the process by which laws or constitutional amendments are submitted to the voters for approval or rejection. (See PETITION; REFERENDUM)
INTEGRATION
The mixing of people of all races on an equal basis, such as in a school or neighborhood.
INTERDEPENDENT
Relying on one another. A group of people or nations are interdependent if each member can make a unique and necessary contribution to the welfare of all. Three friends are interdependent if one has a car, another a driver's license, and the third money for gas.
INTERPRET
To explain the meaning of; to examine a law. The Supreme Court interpreted constitutional law to determine that segregated public schools were unconstitutional.
INTERSTATE
Between or across two or more states. In business it refers to operations carried out across state lines.
INTRASTATE
Within one state. In business it refers to operations carried on only within a state.
INVEST
To put money into a business in order to make a profit (the amount of income that remains after all expenses are paid). The investor hopes to get a certain part of the profit that the business makes.
ISSUE
A question affecting the public which is presented to the voters on the ballot on election day. A school levy is a good example. If the voters pass the levy, tax money will become available for school purposes.

JUDICIAL BRANCH
The courts; the branch of the federal, state, or local government which decides whether laws have been broken and which punishes lawbreakers.
JUDICIAL REVIEW
The poer of the Supreme Court to review laws and declare them to be unconstitutional (contrary to the constitution). Early in hour history there was a bitter argument whether the Supreme Court had the power to review acts of the Congress. Again, in another great opinion Chief Justice John Marshall held that the Supreme Court does have that power and may nullify a law of Congress that violates the Constitution.
JULY 4, 1776
The official date of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, celebrated as Independence Day. The formal statement of the independence of the thirteen American colonies from the control of Great Britian was written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

LAWSUIT
A dispute or complaint which is taken into court for trial.
LEGAL PROTEST
A protest by lawful means, such as signing petitions, joing a peaceful march or picket line, or supporting a boycott. This differs from civil disobedience which involves breaking the law as a form of protest, such as trespassing on private property or refusing to pay taxes.
LEGEND
With reference to a map, the legend is the key which explains the symbols used to understand the map.
LEGISLATION
A law or group of laws, either proposed or enacted; the process of making laws.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The branch of government which makes laws. The Congress for the Federal government; the Ohio General Assembly for Ohio.
LEVY
To collect or charge. Levy is used often in relation to taxes, in which case it means taxing property, income or trade.
LIBERAL
A person who believes that the government should actively support social reform within the existing system. Liberals stress the importance of individual rights and believe the government should promote equality in affairs of private citizens and businesses. (See CONSERVATIVE)
LICENSE
Legal permission, usually paid for, to work at certain jobs or perform certain activities. A license to drive, to fish, to hunt, to practice cosmetology etc.
LIMITED
Having a limit; being restricted. When used in economics it often refers to a country's lack of resources to produce the products the country needs or wants to make.
LITERACY
The ability to read and write. A test of functional (useful) literacy is the ability to read such material as a newspaper and to fill out business forms.
LITERACY TEST
A written or oral examination, now illegal, requiring citizens to prove their ability to read, write and understand documents before being allowed to vote. In some Southern states people of color were kept from voting by unfair tests until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 did away with all literacy requirements.
LOBBYIST
A person, acting as an agent for a group, who tries to influence the passage or defeat of legislative bills and other actions of governemtn. A lobbyist, for example, representing a certain industry may provide useful information to a legislator, but generally he is seen as bringing pressure, trying to persuade people in government to vote in a certain way.

MANIPULATE
To try to get someone to think or act in a certain way, usually by clever or devious means. The word devious means not quite truthful.
MAYOR
The chief executive of a city or town, elected by the people for a definite number of years.
MEANS OF PRODUCTION
The factories, machines, and resources used to produce goods. For example, because iron ore, sand and coal are shipped to its port, Cleveland has the means of production for making steel. (See RESOURCES)
MELTING POT
A place where many separate cultures from around the world have come together to form a new culture, as in America. We receive immigrants from many countries, teaching them English and our American way of doing things, while at the same time learning much from this "melting pot" of people.
MINORITIES
Groups of people who are smaller in number compared to other groups in a society, often because of racial, religious, ethnic, or political differences. Ethnic has to do with national origin; where someone was born. (See ETHNIC)
MODERATE
In politics, a person whose attitudes and opinions are somewhere between those of a Liberal and a Conservative; preferring neither too much nor too little government. (See LIBERAL; CONSERVATIVE)
MONARCHY
A government that has a hereditary chief of state, such as a king or queen, who holds the position for life. England is a monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth born to rule and passing on the title to one of her children.
MUNICIPALITY
A city or local community that enjoys self-government in local matters. East Cleveland, for example, is a municipality having its own mayor, council, police department, etc.
MUTUALLY
To do something mutually, as the word is used in the Declaration of Independence, means that the action is a joint action and often agreed upon beforehand. It was the mutual decision of the representatives to sign the Declaration.

NATION
A community of people with a common government and usually sharing a common language and culture. The U.S. is a nation under the Constitution with English as its common language.
NATIVE AMERICANS
American Indians whose ancestors were the first inhabitants of this country.
NATURALIZATION
The process by which a foreigner becomes a citizen. After a certain number of years of residence a person can take a test showing his knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. If he passes he becomes a citizen and can vote.
NOMINATE
To propose or select a candidate to run for election. Three people were nominated to run for Class President. Only one person will be elected.
NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
The law passed in 1787 to govern the Northwest Territory. It outlined basic liberties, outlawed slavery and required public education in the Northwest Territory, and incorporated methods for territories to become states.
NORTHWEST TERRITORY
The land governed by the Northwest Ordinance, which included Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The legislative body of the State of Ohio. It is bicameral, composed of the Ohio House of Reprentatives and the Ohio Senate.
OHIO SUPREME COURT
This is the highest state court in Ohio. It has seven judges. They are elected by the boters. This court hears cases which are appealed from the Ohio Court of Appeals.
OHIO COURT OF APPEALS
Ohio has a number of separate districts in which a court of appeals is located. Judges of this court are elected by the voters. This court hears cases which are appealed from the court of common pleas.
OHIO COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
The court of common pleas is a state court located in each county. Judges are elected by the voters in the county where the court is located. The lawsuits tried in this court involve many different types of cases, including murder, robbery, and other crimes; also disputes about property, contracts, family problems, etc.
OPINION
One's personal view.
OPINION (of the court)
A written statement giving the reasons for a decision in a paticular case. When the court decides a case, it usually gives its decision in a written opinion.
ORDINANCE
A statue or regulation enacted by a local legislative body; the law against parking in front of a fire plug is a city ordinance.
OVERRIDE
In law-making, an action taken by a legislature to try to reverse an executive veto by means of a vote. It takes a 2/3 or 3/5 vote to override an executive veto, depending on whether it is Congress or a state legislature voting. (See VETO).

PATRIOTIC
Having pride in one's country.
PETITION
To make a formal request; to write down a viewpoint and have others sign an agreement with that viewpoint. To petition is to ask or request.
PICKET LINE
Usually means a line of people carrying signs of protest or diasagreement. One example is a line of workers walking in front of a factory where a strike is taking place.
PLANK
One item in the platform of a party. Planks, or statements, make up a party's platform.
PLATFORM
The overall official position (views) of a political party. These would be in writing, and pertain to international relations, military, health, old age, education, etc., any number of issues.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A statement of loyalty to the flag and to the principles of the United States.
POCKET VETO
A method of vetoing a bill that can be used by the President on bills presented for signing 10 days or less before the end of session of Congress. If the bill is not signed before Congress adjourns, it does not become law. This method of disapproving a bill is called the pocket veto. (See VETO)
POLICY
A plan, guiding principle or course of action adopted by a person, government or other organization.
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE - PAC
A group or organization which raises money to inluence the election of public officials and the passage of laws.
POLITICAL PARTY
A group of like-minded citizens organized to advance their political views, win elections, influence government and set public policy.
POLL TAX
A tax that must be paid before one can vote; it is now unconstitutional.
PREAMBLE
An introduction to a formal document; the opening paragraph of the United States Constitution. Pre at the beginning of a word means before or in front of. Amble means to walk. Something that walks or comes in front of.
PREJUDICE
A judgment or opinion, usually negative, formed before the facts are known or understood. My little sister was knocked down by our neighbor's dog. Now she is prejudiced against all dogs, even though we try to tell her that not all dogs are rough.
PRESIDENT
The head of a system of government in which the executive branch acts independently of the legislative branch. Companies, clubs, and most organizations also have presidents.
PRESSURE GROUPS
Groups of people who share a common viewpoint on an issue and who attempt to influence the government's action on that issue. For example, an organized group which wants to keep air and water clean (environmentalists) often bring pressure on the Congress to pass clean air and water laws.
PRIMARY ELECTION
An election held prior to (before) the general election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket. For example, before President Clinton was nominated to run for President he won a majority of votes in the Democratic primaries.
PROHIBIT
To not allow; to make unlawful.
PROPAGANDA
Any communication designed to influence people's beliefs, opinion, or actions. It often has an element of untruth or exaggeration about it.
PROPERTY TAX
The tax paid on the value of a person's house or business.

QUARTERING
To provide housing. The quartering of troops in private homes is unconsitutional under the Second Amendment. This was once required of people. No one liked having to do it.

RACISM
Discriminaiton and prejudice based on race. The belief that someone's race deterines his traits or abilities or potential (future accomplishments) so that he is better or worse than another race.
RADICAL
Someone who favors rapid, fundamental change in the exisiting social, economic or political order; having strong convictions or extreme principles. The key word is extreme, meaning very different from the traditional way in which things are usually done.
RATIFY
To approve, as in voters approving an act or the states approving a constitutional amendment.
RECALL
A method of removing an official from office by petitioning for a special removal election. As required by law, a petition for recall must be signed by a certain number of people to get on the ballot. (Getting on the ballot means being officially placed before the people at the voting booth.)
REDRESS
To set right, remedy, correct. The word is not often used, but it is used in the Declaration of Independence, "redress of grievances." The signers of the Declaration were appealing for redress (correction) of the grievances (unjust actions) of the British King George III.
REFERENDUM
A procedure used in half the states for referring bills or constitutional amendments to voters for approval or rejection. In Ohio the voters have the right of referendum regarding the state constitution and laws. (See INITIATIVE; PETITION)
REGISTRATION
The act of signing up with election officials in order to be able to vote.
REGULATE
To control or direct according to a set of rules.
REJECT
To refuse to accept. A bill (a proposed law) goes through a complicated procedure in which it is either approved or rejected by the legislators.
RELIABLE
Accurate, dependable. Reliable information is based upon fact, not opinion.
RELIANCE
The word means trust.
REPEAL
To take back; to officaly make null and void, as in repealing a law. This means that the law, once on the books, can no longer be enforced. It is null and void.
REPRESENTATIVE
An elected or appointed official. In Washington it is a member of the House of Representatives, or in the case of Ohio, a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Both are elective offices. If a representative dies or leaves office before his/her term ends, the vacancy may be filled by appointment.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
A political system in which people elect officials to represent them in government. This is what we have in the United States. It is also called a Republic.
REPUBLIC
A country governed by elected representatives of the people.
REPUTABLE
Respected, having a good reputation.
RESOURCES
Materials used in making goods or providing services.
REVENUE
Income. For example, wages earned. The largest portion of government income is derived from taxes.
REVISE
To edit or amend (which means to change or add to) in order to improve or bring up-to-date.
RIDER
A provision, unlikely to pass on its own merits, added to an important bill so that it will "ride" through the legislative process. For example, there may be a bill of great national importance which is expected to receive a "yes" vote by both Democrats and Republicans. At the same time, there may be another bill of far less importance which is about to fail. The legislators promoting the second bill will attach it to the first so that it will "ride" through.

SALES TAX
A tax paid on the price of certain goods purchased.
SCAPEGOAT
One who is made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.
SCARCITY
Too small a supply; a shortage.
SEIZURE
To take possession of; for example, the seizure of a person's property by a legal authority.
SELF INCRIMINATION
A person giving testimony (sworn statements before a court) that might implicate (involve) him/her in a criminal activity. Under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, a person has the right to refuse to testify against himself. This is called "taking the Fifth".
SENATE
The upper body of Congress. There are 100 senators, two from each state. They are elected by the voters in the state which they will represent.
SEPARATION OF POWERS
A principle of American government by which contitutional authority is distributed among the three branches of government; the legislative which makes the laws, the executive which sees that laws are carried out, and the judicial which interprets the laws. (See CHECKS AND BALANCES)
SEXISM
Discrimination because of sex.
SIGNIFICANT
Important, meaningful.
SIT-IN
A type of demonstration in which a group of persons protest against something by sitting down in a place and refusing to leave. (See CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE)
SLANT
To write or tell something in a way that supports a particular opinion or view.
SOCIAL CLASS
A person's rank or status in society.
SOCIALISM
The economic system which advocates governemnt ownership of the basic means of production. The government not only has the political power, but it has the control necessary to produce and distribute the goods. Under socialism there is often individual ownership of certain industries and businesses, whereas under communism everything is operated and controlled by the government. (See COMMUNISM; CAPITALISM)
SOUND BITE
A short, usually catchy, political statement on TV for the purpose of influencing voters.
SPECIALIZATION
To focus on a particular area of study, activity or product.
STATE
A state is a separate political unit within the Federal system. It is identified by fixed boundaries, topography (rivers, mountains, etc.), populaiton and its own government.
STEREOTYPE
A simplified image of a person, without individuality; meant to represent or be typical of a larger group of people, such as members of a religion or race. Librarians are often stereotyped as mousy women who whisper and wear unfashionable glasses.
SUBPOENA
A court order requiring a person to appear as a witness.
SUFFRAGE
The right to vote.
SYMBOL
An image or object that stands for something else. The flag is an important symbol of the United States. Others are the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, the Great Seal (stamp), the Bald Eagle, and the figure of Uncle Sam.

TAXATION
The method by which governments pay for the many things they are required to do. The Federal government receives most of its money from taxes on income. Ohio pays for its schools mostly through taxes on property owned in Ohio.
TERRITORY
Land that is governed by the United States but is not a state. Today a variety of governmental descriptions are applied to outlying U.S. areas which are not states. However, territory is still in use, as for Guam.
TITLES OF NOBILITY
Titles such as duke, duchess, count, countess bestowed upon someone to indicate a higher position than ordinary people. In the United States the Constitution prohibits the government from granting titles.
TRADE
To give in exchange for another item. Two countries are interdependent in trade when each country trades its overabundance of one product for a product it needs which is readily available in the other country. An example is the exchange of U.S. wheat for Russian chromium.
TYRANNY
A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power. It is often cruel and unfair.

UNALIENABLE
Cannot be legally taken away. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the unalienable rights listed by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
In violation of the Constitution and therefore prohibited. In determining whether an activity is prohibted, the Supreme Court examines general constitutional law that can be applied to the case: Linda Brown was denied admission to her local school in Topeka, Kansas because she was not white. When her case came before the Supreme Court, the justices looked at the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which forbids the denial of equal protection of the laws to any person. In 1954 the Court decided that Linda experienced harm by being segregated and therefore was being denied equal protection of the laws. The Court then prohibited racial segregation in the public schools.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
It is the highest court in our nation. It has nine judges. They are appointed by the President with the approval of the United States Senate. The court hears cases appealed from lower courts relating to matters having to do with the Constitution and laws of the United States.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
The United States Congress has designated large areas or "circuits" and established a court of appeals in each circuit. The judges are appointed by the President with the approval of the United States Senate. This court hears cases which are appealed from the United States District Courts.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
The United States Congress has divided the country into many districts and established a federal court in each district. The judges are appointed by the President with the approval of the United States Senate. The district court is a trial court in which most of the cases have to do with questions arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States.

VETO
The power of a president, governor, or mayor to reject a piece of legislation by refusing to sign it. On a national level a bill so vetoed can become law if it is passed again (with a 2/3 majority) by both houses of Congress. (See POCKET VETO)
VIOLATE
To disregard or break. In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson listed the various ways in which the human rights of the American colonists had been violated.
VOLUNTARY
Done of one's own free will. I am a volunteer at the soup kitchen. My work there is voluntary. I am not required to do it, nor am I paid for doing it.

WARRANT
Permission from a court allowing an officer to make a search, seizure or arrest of a person or property.
WESTWARD EXPANSION
The movement westward during the 19th century on foot, horseback and by covered wagon, opened up vast areas for the raising of corn, wheat and cattle. The building of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 made possible the movement of people and freight from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
WILL OF THE PEOPLE
The final decision of the people. The American people express their will at the ballot box.

ZONING
Zoning is the setting of regulations (rules) to control what kind of building activities can take place in an area. Some places are set aside for stores, some for factories, some for apartments, some for single houses, etc.

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