Citizenship Studies key terms

Giving appropriate weight to relevant viewpoints rather than unfairly favouring one side.

A tax paid by individuals on taxable income above a tax-free allowance, including earnings and some other income.

The status of a country governing itself as a separate sovereign state, rather than remaining part of another state.

A candidate who stands without representing a political party.

Trying to achieve change through representatives, organisations or other intermediaries.

Tax charged on goods or services, usually collected by businesses and passed on to consumers through prices.

The combination of characteristics, experiences, beliefs and relationships that makes a person who they are.

The freedom to make personal choices and express beliefs and opinions, within the law and with regard for other people's rights.

The responsibility of a minister to explain and answer to Parliament for the policies and actions of their department.

Action taken together by workers, such as a strike or overtime ban, to put pressure on an employer during a dispute.

Differences in people’s opportunities or access to resources such as income, education, housing and healthcare.

The ability to affect another person's views, decisions or actions, for example by making a persuasive case.

Action whose purpose, message and method are shaped by research evidence rather than unsupported assumptions.

A court order requiring someone to do, or refrain from doing, something. An injunction can prevent publication of particular information.

People from different backgrounds participating together in education, employment and community life.

An organisation bringing together people with shared concerns or interests. Citizens can join one to work collectively for change.

Movement from one area to another within the same country.

A disagreement involving countries, for example over territory, trade or government actions.

Rules that limit the effects of armed conflict by protecting people who are not, or are no longer, fighting and restricting weapons and military tactics.

The body of rules governing relations between states, including treaties, customary rules and general legal principles.

A body through which countries work together on shared issues, such as security, human rights or trade.

An approach that examines how characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity and social class interact rather than treating each separately.

Research into an issue to uncover and report information that may be hidden, including evidence of wrongdoing.

The Independent Press Standards Organisation, a regulator that handles complaints and upholds standards for the press publications it covers.

A judicial office-holder who hears cases, applies the law and manages proceedings. Judges may decide civil disputes and sentence convicted offenders.

The principle that judges should decide cases according to law, independently of political pressure.

A court process examining whether a public body made a decision lawfully, fairly and within its powers, rather than whether its policy was politically desirable.