7th Grade Civics-Study Guide

What is the indirect method we use to elect the president?

electoral college

Who follows the vice president in succession to the president?

speaker of the house

What is the most important role of the president?

Carry out laws passed by congress

What is the basic goal of American foreign policy?

national security

A state has as many ____ as the total of its U.S. senators and representatives.

electoral votes

the president has the power to issue an _____ which is a rule or command that has the force of law

executive orders

The most powerful member of the House of Representatives is the ____.

speaker

What is the term that is used when an official is formally accused of misconduct in office?

impeachment

A ______ is a population count taken every 10 years.

census

Who is the person who usually acts as chairperson of the Senate?

President Pro Temper

A _______ is a court order allowing police to search a suspects home or business and take specific items as evidence.

search warrant

When the Second Amendment was written, a ____ was a small, local army made up of volunteer soldiers.

militia

Many Southern states practiced ____, or the social separation of the races.

segregation

Unfair treatment based on prejudice against a certain group is called what?

discrimination

The right to _____ means the right to express one ideas to the government.

petition

Which Amendment protects Americans �against unreasonable searches and seizures�?

The Fourth Amendment

What is needed before a citizen can be put on trial for a serious federal crime?

An indictment

______ is the sum of money used as a security deposit to allow an accused person to remain free until trial.

bail

______ believed in nonviolent resistance, or the peaceful protest of unfair laws.

Martin Luther King

The ______ Amendment protected the right of women to vote in all national and state elections

19th Amendment (1920)

freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair treatment

Civil liberties

a formal request

petition

Protects Americans �against unreasonable searches and seizures�

4th Amendment

a formal charge by a grand jury, accusing a person of a crime

indictment

right of the government to take away private property for public use

eminent domain

money forfeited if the accused person fails to appear in court

bail

money paid before casting a ballot

poll tax

organized boycotts, marches, and demonstrations to promote the civil rights movement

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

being singled out as a suspect because of one's race or ethnicity

Racial Profiling

protected the right of women to vote in all national and state elections

19th Amendment

population count taken every 10 years

census

oddly shaped district designed to increase one groups voting strength

gerrymander

Usually acts as chairperson of the senate

President Pro Tempore

another name for Clause 18, the �necessary and proper� clause

elastic clause

requires police to explain why they are holding a prisoner

writ of habeus corpus

congressional members right to send job-related mail without paying postage

franking privilege

helping people in dealing with the federal government

case work

Passed by both houses of Congress, they become law if signed by the president.

joint resolution

completely unrelated amendments to a bill

riders

procedure used to end a filibuster

cloture

indirect method for electing the president

electoral college

follows the vice president in succession to the presidency

speaker of the house

declaration of forgiveness and freedoms from punishment

pardon

delays a persons punishment until a higher court can hear the case

reprieve

president most important speech to congress each year

state of the union address

basic goal of American foreign policy

national security

agreement between the president and the leader of another country

executive agreement

efforts to punish another nation by imposing trade barriers

trade sanction

practice of hiring government workers through examinations and merit

civil service system

makes and enforces the rules for a certain industry or group

regulatory commission