Political Systems Vocabulary
Maryland Learning Outcomes

K to 3rd Grade

Authority/leadership - the right to use power to control the behavior of others.

Citizen - a person who is a member of a community or country.

Community improvement - working to make the community better.

Conflict - when people do not share the same view.

Government - a group of people who work together to bring order to a community, state, or nation.

Justice/fairness - the act of being fair and honest; of doing what is right.

Landmark - 1) a familiar object at a place that people easily know as a part of that community; 2) an important object that reminds people of an important event or person.

Maintain order - to keep the community clean, safe, and organized for the good of all citizens.

Participate - to take part in an activity.

Participation - taking part in or sharing in the activities of a group or organization.

Patriotism - love of one's country.

Political process - The system of citizens electing representatives or leaders to make decisions for people. The political process can also refer to steps of forming policy or making, enforcing, and interpreting laws.

Political system - a set of democratic principles and ideas that citizens follow.

Principles - the ideas in American government including justice/fairness, authority/leadership, privacy, and responsibilities/rights of others

Privacy -being let alone or keeping secret.

Respect - to be thoughtful of and caring of another person.

Rights and responsibilities - Rights are freedoms granted to American citizens that allow them to make their own choices. For example, Americans have the right to an education, to express ideas, and to vote for leaders. Responsibilities are duties that citizens have.

Rule - something you must or must not do.

Symbol - a picture that stands for something else. A square is a symbol for a store on a map. The American flag is a symbol of patriotism.