Citizenship Studies GCSE
Citizenship Studies GCSE glossary
26 key terms for Citizenship Studies GCSE, A to Z, each linked to the topic pages that use it.
A
- Accountability
- The principle that those in power must answer for their actions and can be removed from office if they fail the public.Pearson Edexcel
- Advocacy and Campaigning
- The strategic use of communication to represent a cause or group.Pearson Edexcel
- Asylum Seeker
- A person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another, but whose application has not yet been processed.Pearson Edexcel
- Authoritarian System
- A non-democratic political system where power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or small elite, with no free elections.Pearson Edexcel
B
- Balance of Probabilities
- The standard of proof in a civil court; the judge decides whose version of events is more likely to be true.Pearson Edexcel
- Beyond Reasonable Doubt
- The standard of proof required in a criminal court; the jury/magistrates must be completely certain of guilt.Pearson Edexcel
- Bicameral
- A parliament with two chambers or houses (e.g., the House of Commons and the House of Lords).Pearson Edexcel
C
- Community Cohesion
- Working towards a society in which there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all communities.Pearson Edexcel
D
- Democratic Participation
- The role of active citizenship in a representative democracy.Pearson Edexcel
- Devolution
- The transfer of power from a central government to regional or local administrations.Pearson Edexcel
- Direct Action
- Political participation that takes place outside the established political system, such as protests, strikes, or civil disobedience.Pearson Edexcel
F
- Free Press
- Media outlets that are free to report the news and express opinions without government censorship or interference.Pearson Edexcel
I
- Indictable Offence
- A serious criminal offence (e.g., murder, robbery) that must be tried in the Crown Court before a judge and jury.Pearson Edexcel
- Indirect Action
- Political participation that works within the established democratic system, such as voting, lobbying, or joining a political party.Pearson Edexcel
- Insider Pressure Group
- A pressure group that has direct access to government ministers and civil servants, and is consulted on policy.Pearson Edexcel
M
- Multiple Identities
- The concept that individuals associate themselves with several different groups simultaneously, such as nationality, religion, gender, and local region.Pearson Edexcel
P
- Parliamentary Sovereignty
- The principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK and can create or end any law.Pearson Edexcel
- Power and Influence
- Analysis of the loci of power within the UK political system, including local government, Westminster, and devolved administrations.Pearson Edexcel
- Protected Characteristics
- The nine specific traits protected by law under the Equality Act 2010 to prevent discrimination.Pearson Edexcel
R
- Refugee
- A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster, and has been granted legal protection.Pearson Edexcel
- Restorative Justice
- A system of justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large.Pearson Edexcel
- Rule of Law
- The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.Pearson Edexcel
S
- Scrutiny
- The careful and detailed examination of government policies and actions by Parliament.Pearson Edexcel
- Summary Offence
- A less serious criminal offence (e.g., speeding, minor criminal damage) tried in the Magistrates' Court.Pearson Edexcel
U
- Uncodified Constitution
- A constitution made up of rules that are found in a variety of sources, rather than a single written document.Pearson Edexcel
W
- Whip
- An MP appointed by their party to enforce discipline and ensure MPs vote in line with the party's official policy.Pearson Edexcel
Where these terms come from
Each definition is one we publish on a Citizenship Studies GCSE topic page or study guide. Open a term to see how each exam board words it and which topic it belongs to. For the full course, go to Citizenship Studies revision or the glossary for every subject.
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