Civics, Citizenship, and Government: Glossary
161 words, listed in the order you meet them in Courseversity lessons.
Full explanations
All words in this topic
Grade 1
law
From Grade 1
a rule made for a whole country or town
Learn it in: Why we have rules (Grade 1), Community rules (Grade 2), Community rules (Grade 3)
permission
From Grade 1
being allowed to do something
Learn it in: Rules at home (Grade 1), Planning responsible action (Grade 5)
consequence
From Grade 1
what happens because of an action
Learn it in: Rules at school (Grade 1), Community rules (Grade 2), Community rules (Grade 3)
equal
From Grade 1
the same amount
Learn it in: Fairness (Grade 1), What are rights? (Grade 2), Fair treatment (Grade 2)
choice
From Grade 1
picking one thing from two or more
Learn it in: Making good choices (Grade 1), Making simple choices (Grade 1), Consumers (Grade 2)
responsible
From Grade 1
trusted to do what you should
Learn it in: Being responsible (Grade 1), Responsible use of money (Grade 2), Responsible action (Grade 3)
Grade 2
committee
From Grade 2
a small group chosen to do a task
Learn it in: Community organisation (Grade 2), Community organisation (Grade 3), Legislatures (Grade 6)
council
From Grade 2
a group that makes decisions for a community
Learn it in: Community organisation (Grade 2), Local authorities (Grade 3), Social organisation (Grade 4)
organise
From Grade 2
to arrange so that things work well
Learn it in: Community organisation (Grade 2)
midwife
From Grade 2
a trained person who helps women give birth
Learn it in: Healthcare workers (Grade 2)
pharmacist
From Grade 2
a person who prepares and gives medicines
Learn it in: Healthcare workers (Grade 2)
vaccine
From Grade 2
medicine that protects us from certain illnesses
Learn it in: Healthcare workers (Grade 2)
processor
From Grade 2
a person or business that prepares food for sale
Learn it in: Farmers and food providers (Grade 2)
supply
From Grade 2
to provide what is needed
Learn it in: Farmers and food providers (Grade 2), Markets (Grade 3), Supply and demand introduction (Grade 5)
business
From Grade 2
an organisation or person who sells goods or services
Learn it in: Traders and businesses (Grade 2), Goods and services (Grade 2), Entrepreneurship (Grade 5)
customer
From Grade 2
a person who buys goods or services
Learn it in: Traders and businesses (Grade 2), Goods and services (Grade 2), Entrepreneurship (Grade 5)
honest
From Grade 2
truthful and fair
Learn it in: Traders and businesses (Grade 2), Responsible use of money (Grade 2)
profit
From Grade 2
money left after costs are paid
Learn it in: Traders and businesses (Grade 2), Production (Grade 3), Prices (Grade 5)
ambulance
From Grade 2
a vehicle that takes sick or hurt people to hospital
Learn it in: Public safety services (Grade 2)
emergency
From Grade 2
a sudden dangerous situation that needs quick help
Learn it in: Public safety services (Grade 2), Saving money (Grade 2)
consensus
From Grade 2
agreement by everyone
Learn it in: Community decision-making (Grade 2), Community decision-making (Grade 3), Fair decision-making (Grade 4)
decision
From Grade 2
a choice that is made
Learn it in: Community decision-making (Grade 2), Community decision-making (Grade 3), Reasons people move (Grade 6)
majority
From Grade 2
more than half
Learn it in: Community decision-making (Grade 2), Responsible participation (Grade 2), Community decision-making (Grade 3)
citizen
From Grade 2
a member of a community or country
Full explanation with examples and practice →
Learn it in: Working together (Grade 2), Responsible citizenship (Grade 3), Citizen participation (Grade 4)
solution
From Grade 2
a way to solve a problem
Learn it in: Working together (Grade 2), Identifying possible solutions (Grade 3)
evidence
From Grade 2
facts and observations that support an idea
Learn it in: Improving community services (Grade 2), Community history project (Grade 2), Asking Social Studies questions (Grade 3)
survey
From Grade 2
asking a group of people the same questions
Learn it in: Improving community services (Grade 2), Local economic investigation (Grade 3), Gathering evidence (Grade 5)
convention
From Grade 2
an agreement between many countries
Learn it in: What are rights? (Grade 2), Children’s rights (Grade 6)
duty
From Grade 2
something you ought to do
Learn it in: What are responsibilities? (Grade 2), Rights and responsibilities (Grade 6)
equitable
From Grade 2
giving each person what they need to have a fair chance
Learn it in: Fair treatment (Grade 2), Resource distribution (Grade 6)
tolerance
From Grade 2
accepting that others can be different
Learn it in: Respect for others (Grade 2), Religion and belief systems as historical and cultural subjects (Grade 4)
respectfully
From Grade 2
in a way that shows care for others’ feelings
Learn it in: Helping people (Grade 2)
group
From Grade 2
a number of people working or staying together
Learn it in: Working in groups (Grade 2)
bullying
From Grade 2
repeated unkind behaviour that hurts someone
Learn it in: Resolving conflicts peacefully (Grade 2), Respect and inclusion (Grade 3), Discrimination and inclusion (Grade 6)
compromise
From Grade 2
each person gives a little to agree
Learn it in: Resolving conflicts peacefully (Grade 2), Community decision-making (Grade 3), Fair decision-making (Grade 4)
conflict
From Grade 2
a disagreement or problem between people
Learn it in: Resolving conflicts peacefully (Grade 2), Peaceful conflict resolution (Grade 3), Peaceful conflict resolution (Grade 6)
opinion
From Grade 2
what someone thinks or feels
Learn it in: Listening to different opinions (Grade 2), Observation and enquiry (Grade 3), Organising evidence (Grade 3)
reason
From Grade 2
why someone thinks something
Learn it in: Listening to different opinions (Grade 2)
participate
From Grade 2
to take part
Learn it in: Responsible participation (Grade 2), Citizen participation (Grade 4)
Grade 3
association
From Grade 3
a group of people who join together for a shared purpose
Learn it in: Community organisation (Grade 3)
inclusion
From Grade 3
making sure everyone can take part
Learn it in: Community organisation (Grade 3), Respect and inclusion (Grade 3), Inclusion and fairness (Grade 5)
accountable
From Grade 3
having to explain your actions to others
Learn it in: Leadership (Grade 3), Leadership and accountability (Grade 4)
chiefdom
From Grade 3
a traditional area led by a paramount chief
Learn it in: Local authorities (Grade 3), Local government (Grade 4), Historical states and societies (Grade 5)
ward
From Grade 3
a small area within a town or district that elects a councillor
Learn it in: Local authorities (Grade 3)
police
From Grade 3
officers who help keep people safe and enforce laws
Learn it in: Public services (Grade 3)
public service
From Grade 3
a service provided for the benefit of everyone
Learn it in: Public services (Grade 3), Public services (Grade 4), Purposes of government (Grade 5)
tax
From Grade 3
money people and businesses pay to the government for public services
Learn it in: Public services (Grade 3), Purposes of government (Grade 5), Taxation introduction (Grade 6)
barrier
From Grade 3
something that makes taking part harder
Learn it in: Community participation (Grade 3)
participation
From Grade 3
taking part in an activity or decision
Learn it in: Community participation (Grade 3), Children’s rights (Grade 6)
school council
From Grade 3
pupils chosen to represent others and share ideas with the school
Learn it in: Community participation (Grade 3)
volunteering
From Grade 3
giving time to help without pay
Learn it in: Community participation (Grade 3), Planning responsible action (Grade 5), Civic participation (Grade 6)
mediator
From Grade 3
a fair person who helps others solve a problem
Learn it in: Peaceful conflict resolution (Grade 3)
feedback
From Grade 3
comments that help improve something
Learn it in: Community improvement proposal (Grade 3), Presenting recommendations (Grade 3), Presenting findings (Grade 4)
proposal
From Grade 3
a plan suggested for others to consider
Learn it in: Community improvement proposal (Grade 3), Environmental action proposal (Grade 4)
Grade 4
authority
From Grade 4
the power or right to make decisions and give orders
Learn it in: Why societies create rules (Grade 4)
fairness
From Grade 4
treating people equally and giving each a fair chance
Learn it in: Why societies create rules (Grade 4)
court
From Grade 4
a place where judges decide what the law means and settle disputes
Learn it in: Laws and their purposes (Grade 4), Courts and justice systems (Grade 6)
rights
From Grade 4
things every person is entitled to have or do
Learn it in: Laws and their purposes (Grade 4)
rule of law
From Grade 4
the idea that everyone, including leaders, must obey the law
Learn it in: Laws and their purposes (Grade 4), Accountability and rule of law (Grade 6)
institution
From Grade 4
an organisation set up for an important public purpose
Learn it in: Public institutions (Grade 4)
official
From Grade 4
a person who holds a public job in an institution
Learn it in: Public institutions (Grade 4), Written records (Grade 5)
taxes
From Grade 4
money that people and businesses pay to the government
Learn it in: Public institutions (Grade 4)
councillor
From Grade 4
a person elected to a council to represent a ward
Learn it in: Local government (Grade 4)
local government
From Grade 4
the part of government that serves one town, city or district
Learn it in: Local government (Grade 4), Levels of government (Grade 5)
constitution
From Grade 4
the highest set of rules that says how a country is governed
Learn it in: National government introduction (Grade 4), National independence or state formation (Grade 5), Constitutions introduction (Grade 5)
executive
From Grade 4
the part of government that carries out the laws and runs the country
Learn it in: National government introduction (Grade 4), Government institutions (Grade 5), Separation of powers introduction (Grade 6)
judiciary
From Grade 4
the part of government made up of courts and judges
Learn it in: National government introduction (Grade 4), Government institutions (Grade 5), Separation of powers introduction (Grade 6)
legislature
From Grade 4
the part of government that makes laws
Learn it in: National government introduction (Grade 4), Government institutions (Grade 5), Separation of powers introduction (Grade 6)
corruption
From Grade 4
using power or public money dishonestly for personal gain
Learn it in: Leadership and accountability (Grade 4), Accountability (Grade 5), Accountability and rule of law (Grade 6)
transparent
From Grade 4
open, so that people can see what is done and why
Learn it in: Leadership and accountability (Grade 4)
petition
From Grade 4
a written request signed by many people asking for a change
Learn it in: Citizen participation (Grade 4), Responsible civic participation (Grade 5), Civic participation (Grade 6)
agenda
From Grade 4
a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
Learn it in: Model community council (Grade 4)
chairperson
From Grade 4
the person who leads a meeting and keeps it fair
Learn it in: Model community council (Grade 4)
minutes
From Grade 4
a written record of what was decided at a meeting
Learn it in: Model community council (Grade 4)
motion
From Grade 4
a clear proposal put to a meeting for a decision
Learn it in: Model community council (Grade 4)
Grade 5
public good
From Grade 5
something that benefits everyone, such as safety, roads and clean air
Learn it in: Purposes of government (Grade 5), Public responsibility (Grade 6), Public goods and services (Grade 6)
national government
From Grade 5
the government that makes decisions for the whole country
Learn it in: Levels of government (Grade 5)
separation of powers
From Grade 5
dividing government power between branches so that no one holds all of it
Learn it in: Government institutions (Grade 5), Separation of powers introduction (Grade 6), Government and citizenship review (Grade 6)
amendment
From Grade 5
a formal change made to a constitution or law
Learn it in: Constitutions introduction (Grade 5), Constitutions and laws (Grade 6)
fundamental rights
From Grade 5
basic rights and freedoms protected by the constitution
Learn it in: Constitutions introduction (Grade 5)
supreme law
From Grade 5
the highest law of the country, which other laws must follow
Learn it in: Constitutions introduction (Grade 5)
assent
From Grade 5
formal approval by the President that makes a bill into law
Learn it in: Lawmaking (Grade 5)
bill
From Grade 5
a proposed law that is discussed in Parliament
Learn it in: Lawmaking (Grade 5), Legislatures (Grade 6)
debate
From Grade 5
a structured discussion in which people give reasons for and against
Learn it in: Lawmaking (Grade 5)
civil servant
From Grade 5
a person employed by the government to do public work, regardless of which party governs
Learn it in: Public administration (Grade 5)
ministry
From Grade 5
a government department responsible for a field such as education or health
Learn it in: Public administration (Grade 5)
procedure
From Grade 5
a set of steps that must be followed to do something correctly
Learn it in: Public administration (Grade 5)
public administration
From Grade 5
the organisations and people that carry out government decisions and deliver public services
Learn it in: Public administration (Grade 5)
ballot
From Grade 5
the paper or system used to cast a vote in secret
Learn it in: Elections and representation (Grade 5)
candidate
From Grade 5
a person who seeks to be elected
Learn it in: Elections and representation (Grade 5)
election
From Grade 5
a process in which citizens vote to choose leaders or decide an issue
Learn it in: Elections and representation (Grade 5), Elections and representation (Grade 6)
representative
From Grade 5
a person chosen to speak and act for others
Learn it in: Elections and representation (Grade 5)
equality
From Grade 5
being treated fairly and having the same rights
Learn it in: Rights and responsibilities (Grade 5), Human dignity (Grade 6)
human rights
From Grade 5
basic freedoms and protections that belong to every person
Learn it in: Rights and responsibilities (Grade 5), Human rights introduction (Grade 6), Government and citizenship review (Grade 6)
accountability
From Grade 5
being answerable for what you do, especially in a position of power
Learn it in: Accountability (Grade 5), Accountability and rule of law (Grade 6), Government and citizenship review (Grade 6)
transparency
From Grade 5
being open so that others can see and check what is done
Learn it in: Accountability (Grade 5), Accountability and rule of law (Grade 6)
watchdog
From Grade 5
an organisation that checks that others act properly
Learn it in: Accountability (Grade 5)
civic participation
From Grade 5
taking part in community or national life to improve it
Learn it in: Responsible civic participation (Grade 5), Civic participation (Grade 6)
peaceful assembly
From Grade 5
a gathering of people for a lawful, peaceful purpose
Learn it in: Responsible civic participation (Grade 5)
Grade 6
legitimacy
From Grade 6
the widely accepted right of a government to rule
Learn it in: Purposes of government (Grade 6)
democracy
From Grade 6
a system in which citizens hold power, directly or through elected representatives
Learn it in: Forms of government (Grade 6)
federal system
From Grade 6
a system in which power is shared between a central government and regional governments
Learn it in: Forms of government (Grade 6)
monarchy
From Grade 6
a system in which a king or queen is head of state
Learn it in: Forms of government (Grade 6)
republic
From Grade 6
a system in which the head of state is not a hereditary monarch
Learn it in: Forms of government (Grade 6)
customary law
From Grade 6
rules based on long-standing community customs
Learn it in: Constitutions and laws (Grade 6)
statute
From Grade 6
a law passed by a legislature, also called an Act
Learn it in: Constitutions and laws (Grade 6)
cabinet
From Grade 6
a group of senior ministers who advise the head of government and lead departments
Learn it in: Executives (Grade 6)
civil service
From Grade 6
the permanent staff who carry out government work and serve whichever government is in office
Learn it in: Executives (Grade 6)
policy
From Grade 6
a plan of action chosen by a government or organisation
Learn it in: Executives (Grade 6)
appeal
From Grade 6
a request for a higher court to review a decision
Learn it in: Courts and justice systems (Grade 6)
due process
From Grade 6
fair legal procedures that must be followed
Learn it in: Courts and justice systems (Grade 6)
independence of the judiciary
From Grade 6
the principle that judges decide cases on law and evidence, free from pressure
Learn it in: Courts and justice systems (Grade 6)
constituency
From Grade 6
an area whose voters elect a representative
Learn it in: Elections and representation (Grade 6)
secret ballot
From Grade 6
voting in private so that no one can see how you voted
Learn it in: Elections and representation (Grade 6)
turnout
From Grade 6
the share of eligible voters who actually vote
Learn it in: Elections and representation (Grade 6)
declaration
From Grade 6
a formal statement of principles or intentions
Learn it in: Human rights introduction (Grade 6)
universal
From Grade 6
applying to everyone everywhere
Learn it in: Human rights introduction (Grade 6)
best interests
From Grade 6
what is best for a child when decisions affect them
Learn it in: Children’s rights (Grade 6)
freedom
From Grade 6
the power to act, speak or think without unfair restriction
Learn it in: Rights and responsibilities (Grade 6)
inclusion pledge
From Grade 6
a shared promise to welcome and respect everyone
Learn it in: Discrimination and inclusion (Grade 6)
upstander
From Grade 6
a person who acts safely to help when someone is treated unfairly
Learn it in: Discrimination and inclusion (Grade 6)
mediation
From Grade 6
help from a neutral person to reach agreement
Learn it in: Peaceful conflict resolution (Grade 6)
civic duty
From Grade 6
a responsibility that citizens have to their community
Learn it in: Public responsibility (Grade 6)
public property
From Grade 6
things owned and used by the community or state
Learn it in: Public responsibility (Grade 6)
stewardship
From Grade 6
looking after something carefully for others
Learn it in: Public responsibility (Grade 6)
anonymous
From Grade 6
without names, so answers cannot be linked to a person
Learn it in: Rights-based community enquiry (Grade 6)