SAT · History & Social Studies · Intermediate

• government

  n. the group of people who control a country or area

  The government passed a new health policy this year.

• citizen

  n. a legal member of a country

  Every citizen has the duty to obey the laws.

• democracy

  n. a system where people choose their rulers

  In a democracy, the public elects its representatives.

• republic

  n. a state ruled by elected leaders, not a king

  The United States is a federal republic.

• constitution

  n. the basic written rules of a country

  The constitution protects the rights of all citizens.

• amendment

  n. a change made to a law or document

  The first amendment guarantees freedom of speech.

• congress

  n. the national lawmaking body of a country

  Congress debated the new spending bill for weeks.

• senate

  n. an upper house of a legislature

  The senate voted to approve the treaty.

• legislation

  n. laws made by a government

  New legislation made smoking illegal in restaurants.

• policy

  n. a plan or course of action by a government

  The new policy reduced air pollution in the city.

• economy

  n. the system of money, goods, and trade in a place

  The country's economy grew quickly after the war.

• revenue

  n. money that a government or business receives

  The new tax raised revenue for public schools.

• society

  n. people living together in an organized community

  A fair society treats all members equally.

• community

  n. a group of people living in the same area

  The local community built a new park together.

• culture

  n. the customs and beliefs of a group of people

  Music is an important part of every culture.

• region

  n. a particular area or part of a country

  The northern region is known for its cold winters.

• empire

  n. a group of countries ruled by one power

  The Roman empire spread across three continents.

• colony

  n. an area controlled by a distant country

  The colony declared its freedom from the empire.

• revolution

  n. a sudden, complete change in government

  The revolution overthrew the old ruling class.

• independence

  n. freedom from outside control

  The colonies fought for their independence.

• treaty

  n. a formal agreement between countries

  The two nations signed a treaty to end the conflict.

• alliance

  n. a partnership between groups or countries

  The alliance was formed to protect smaller states.

• conflict

  n. a serious disagreement or struggle

  The conflict between the two regions lasted years.

• reform

  n. a change made to improve a system

  The reform gave more rights to ordinary workers.

• election

  n. the process of choosing leaders by voting

  The election was held peacefully across the country.

• candidate

  n. a person who runs for a position

  Each candidate gave a speech before the debate.

• campaign

  n. an organized effort to win an election

  She ran a strong campaign for mayor.

• majority

  n. more than half of a group

  The bill passed with a clear majority of votes.

• minority

  n. a smaller part of a larger group

  The minority party opposed the new measure.

• protest

  n. a public show of disagreement

  Thousands joined the protest against the new tax.

• movement

  n. a group of people working for a shared goal

  The civil rights movement changed the country.

• equality

  n. the state of being treated the same

  The march demanded equality for all races.

• justice

  n. fair treatment under the law

  The court works to deliver justice to victims.

• liberty

  n. the freedom to act and think as one chooses

  The statue is a symbol of liberty and hope.

• authority

  n. the power to give orders or make decisions

  The mayor has authority over the city budget.

• official

  n. a person who holds public office

  A government official announced the new plan.

• federal

  adj. relating to a central national government

  The federal court reviewed the state's decision.

• national

  adj. relating to a whole country

  The national flag flew over every public building.

• industry

  n. businesses that make goods in factories

  The steel industry employed thousands of workers.

• agriculture

  n. the practice of farming and raising crops

  Agriculture was the main source of income for the region.

• immigration

  n. the act of moving to live in another country

  Immigration brought new skills to the growing cities.

• population

  n. the number of people living in a place

  The population of the city doubled in twenty years.

• century

  n. a period of one hundred years

  Many great changes happened in the last century.

• decade

  n. a period of ten years

  The economy improved steadily over the decade.

• era

  n. a long period of time marked by events

  The industrial era transformed how people lived.

• document

  n. an official paper with information

  The treaty is an important historical document.

• declaration

  n. a formal public statement

  The declaration announced the colonies' freedom.

• ratify

  v. to officially approve an agreement

  The states voted to ratify the new constitution.

• govern

  v. to officially rule a country or area

  The council was elected to govern the town.

• representative

  n. a person chosen to act for others

  Each district sends one representative to the assembly.

• assembly

  n. a group that meets to make decisions

  The assembly gathered to discuss the new budget.

• parliament

  n. a body that makes laws in some countries

  Parliament passed the bill after a long debate.

• tribunal

  n. a body appointed to judge or decide matters

  The tribunal ruled against the corrupt official.

• administrator

  n. a person who manages public affairs

  The colonial administrator enforced the new tax.

• magistrate

  n. a local official who applies the law

  The magistrate fined the merchant for fraud.

• ballot

  n. a paper used to cast a secret vote

  Voters marked their choice on the ballot.

• poll

  n. a survey of people's opinions

  The poll showed strong support for the candidate.

• debate

  n. a formal discussion of opposing views

  The two leaders met for a televised debate.

• liberal

  adj. open to new ideas and reform

  The liberal party supported wider voting rights.

• conservative

  adj. favoring tradition and slow change

  Conservative voters preferred the older policies.

• radical

  adj. favoring extreme or complete change

  The radical group demanded an entirely new system.

• moderate

  adj. holding views that are not extreme

  The moderate leader sought a fair compromise.

• welfare

  n. government help for those in need

  The welfare program supported low-income families.

• poverty

  n. the state of being very poor

  The new jobs helped reduce poverty in the area.

• prosperity

  n. a state of success and wealth

  Postwar trade brought decades of prosperity.

• inflation

  n. a general rise in prices over time

  High inflation made everyday goods more expensive.

• budget

  n. a plan for spending money

  The government cut the defense budget this year.

• bond

  n. a certificate of debt issued to raise money

  The government sold bonds to fund the war.

• commerce

  n. large-scale business activity

  The port became a center of global commerce.

• labor

  n. work, especially physical work

  Factory labor was hard and poorly paid.

• union

  n. an organized group of workers

  The union demanded safer working conditions.

• strike

  n. a refusal to work as a form of protest

  The workers went on strike for higher wages.

• servitude

  n. the condition of being forced to serve

  Many laborers lived in harsh servitude.

• migration

  n. the movement of people from one place to another

  The migration west opened new farmland.

• settlement

  n. a place where people make a new home

  The first settlement was built near the river.

• frontier

  n. the edge of settled land

  Pioneers pushed beyond the western frontier.

• pioneer

  n. one of the first to settle a new area

  The pioneers faced great dangers on the journey.

• heritage

  n. traditions passed down through generations

  The museum preserves the nation's cultural heritage.

• ancestor

  n. a family member from long ago

  Her ancestors came to the country as farmers.

• monument

  n. a structure built to honor a person or event

  A monument was raised to remember the fallen soldiers.

• archive

  n. a collection of historical records

  The archive holds letters from the founding leaders.

• census

  n. an official count of a population

  The census showed that the city was growing fast.

• diplomacy

  n. managing relations between countries

  Skilled diplomacy prevented a costly war.

• ambassador

  n. an official who represents a country abroad

  The ambassador met with foreign leaders to talk peace.

• negotiate

  v. to discuss terms to reach an agreement

  The leaders met to negotiate a new trade deal.

• compromise

  n. an agreement reached by mutual concessions

  The two sides reached a compromise on the budget.

• merge

  v. to combine into a single body

  The two parties merged to form a coalition.

• partition

  v. to divide a country into separate parts

  The treaty partitioned the empire among the victors.

• abolish

  v. to officially end a law or system

  The new government voted to abolish the old tax.

• establish

  v. to set up or create something

  The settlers worked to establish a fair legal system.

• oppose

  v. to be against something

  Many farmers opposed the new land policy.

• elect

  v. to choose someone by voting

  The people elected a new president last fall.

• appoint

  v. to officially choose for a position

  The president appointed a new judge to the court.

• enforce

  v. to make people obey a law

  Police were sent to enforce the new curfew.

• violate

  v. to break a law or agreement

  The company was fined for violating the new rules.

• prohibit

  v. to officially forbid something

  The law prohibits the sale of goods on holidays.

• democratic

  adj. based on the principles of democracy

  A democratic society values every person's voice.

• political

  adj. relating to government or public affairs

  The reform sparked a heated political debate.

• economic

  adj. relating to money, trade, and resources

  The crisis caused serious economic problems.

• civic

  adj. relating to a city or to citizens' duties

  Voting is an important civic responsibility.

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