AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies key terms

A charter agreed by King John in 1215 that limited royal power and recognised certain rights, principally protecting powerful groups and free people.

More than half the seats in the House of Commons. With 650 seats, an overall seat majority is at least 326.

A document setting out a political party’s aims and proposed policies, usually published before an election.

Support for which eligibility depends on an assessment of financial circumstances, such as income and savings.

Forms of communication used to share information and ideas with an audience, including newspapers, television, radio, websites and social media.

Help from a third party that enables opposing sides to negotiate an agreement.

An elected representative who serves in the House of Commons and represents a constituency.

A particular technique used to research an issue, carry out action or assess its effects, such as an interview, petition or questionnaire.

The movement of people from one place to another to live.

The lowest hourly pay an employer is legally allowed to pay an eligible worker; the applicable rate depends on the legal category.

A member of the government responsible for an area of its work.

A name used for some government departments, such as the Ministry of Defence; it is not a separate level of government.

False or misleading information, whether or not it is shared deliberately.

A circumstance that may justify a less severe sentence, such as remorse or difficult personal circumstances.

A system in which the position of monarch is held by a king or queen.

A bill certified by the Commons Speaker as dealing only with specified financial matters, such as national taxation or public spending. The Lords can delay it for only one month.

A duty based on ideas about right and wrong rather than a legal requirement, such as helping neighbours.

An expectation of how someone should be treated, based on beliefs about right and wrong rather than necessarily on law.

A Member of Parliament: an elected representative who holds a seat in the House of Commons.

A society in which people from different cultural backgrounds live together.

An electoral area that elects more than one representative.

The different, overlapping identities a person holds at the same time, such as a national identity, a religious identity and membership of a local community.

Treating one another with consideration and recognising one another's dignity, feelings and rights, despite differences.

The central government responsible for governing a country and developing national policies.

A sense of belonging to a country or nation, often connected with its history, culture, traditions or institutions.

Contributions paid by working people and employers, linked to earnings and helping finance benefits and other public spending.

The difference between the number of people immigrating and the number emigrating over a given period.