AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies key terms

A judgement supported by relevant evidence and reasons.

Fairness in the outcome of a decision, rather than only in the procedure used to reach it.

A standard used to judge whether an action has achieved its aims.

An electoral system in which voters select a first and second choice; if nobody wins more than half the first-choice votes, eligible second choices are transferred to the remaining top two candidates.

A meeting or drop-in session where residents can discuss problems and concerns with their elected representative.

A custodial sentence that is not put into effect immediately, but may be activated if the offender commits another offence or breaches its requirements during the specified period.

A connected argument that develops relevant points and supports them with evidence and explanations.

A particular action used to help achieve an objective, such as writing a letter or organising a petition.

Choosing a candidate other than one's preferred candidate to try to influence which candidate wins.

A tax charged on goods traded across national borders.

Money that individuals and businesses are required to pay to government to fund public services and other state responsibilities.

Giving people the appearance of involvement while allowing them little or no real influence over decisions.

The willingness to live peacefully alongside people whose beliefs, opinions or ways of life differ from your own.

An organisation of workers that protects and promotes its members’ interests through advice, representation, negotiation and campaigning.

A union member who advises colleagues and represents them in dealings with their employer.

Established forms of communication such as newspapers, television and radio.

A policy area devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, such as education or health.

A legally binding agreement between states.

A specialist judicial body that decides particular types of dispute, such as employment or benefit appeals.

A person who helps decide cases in a specialist legal body, often contributing relevant experience alongside a legally qualified judge.

The proportion of eligible or registered voters, depending on the measure used, who cast a vote in an election or referendum.

An arrangement in which county councils and district, borough or city councils share responsibility for different local services.

The UK’s highest appeal court, hearing important civil appeals from all three legal systems and criminal appeals from England and Wales and Northern Ireland, with a more limited role in Scottish criminal matters.

A constitution whose rules are found in several sources rather than collected in one authoritative constitutional document.

Action taken by one country without acting jointly with other countries.

Support for keeping the United Kingdom together. In Northern Ireland, unionists support Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK.

A council that combines county-level and district-level responsibilities in one organisation.

The state whose full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, comprising England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.