Citizenship Studies key terms

Being required to explain and justify decisions and actions, and potentially face consequences for them.

Reporting information correctly, checking evidence and distinguishing established facts from allegations or opinions.

A detailed outline of the tasks, responsibilities and timings needed to achieve a particular goal.

A person who takes responsibility, becomes involved in public concerns and acts to make a positive difference in their community.

Taking part in community or public life to help others, influence decisions or bring about change.

A law passed by Parliament.

An electoral system combining constituency representatives elected by First Past the Post with additional representatives elected through a compensating party-list vote.

A political party’s formal acceptance of a selected person as its official candidate for an election.

Action intended to influence decisions, policies or public opinion on behalf of a cause or affected people.

A population in which older people make up an increasing proportion of the total.

The media's influence on which issues the public regards as important through the attention given to particular stories.

The minimum age at which a person can be held legally responsible for committing a criminal offence. It is 10 in England and Wales.

A feature of an offence or offender that increases its seriousness or supports a more severe sentence, such as relevant previous convictions.

The benefit or change that an action is intended to achieve.

Methods of resolving disputes without a court trial, including negotiation, mediation, conciliation and arbitration.

A proposed change to the wording of a bill or another proposal being considered by Parliament.

An examination of how factors, evidence or ideas connect, including why something happens or matters.

A yearly meeting at which a company’s shareholders can hear from and question its leadership.

A lack of interest or concern that reduces someone's motivation to take part in public or political life.

A request for a higher court or tribunal to review a decision, subject to the relevant legal rules.

The overall way an investigation is organised and carried out, including how research informs decisions about action.

The exercise of power according to a ruler's wishes rather than consistent laws and fair procedures.

A process in which the parties agree to let an independent person or body consider the evidence and make a decision that is usually legally binding.

A claim supported by reasons and evidence.

A person asking another country for protection whose asylum claim has not yet been decided.

An MP who is neither a government minister nor an opposition frontbench spokesperson.

The civil standard of proof: the claim must be shown to be more likely than not to be true.