SOCIAL STUDIES

Workbook for CSEC examinations

glossary

CLARE EASTLAND

Glossary
accountabilitywhen persons in positions of power
and authority can show that they have acted properly
Acta bill which has passed through parliament and
become law
adoption when parents legally take on someone
elses child as their own
all-inclusivea type of holiday or tourism
accommodation in which the price includes
everything: flights, accommodation, food, drinks and
activities
alternative life styles non-traditional ways of
living, such as non-married couples with children,
communes or people who do not work
annulment when a marriage is declared null and
void by a court of law
Association of Caribbean States (ACS) an
organisation of Caribbean and Latin American
countries set up in 1994
ATMautomated teller machine, a machine which
allows you use a card to withdraw money and
provides other services
authoritarianstyle of government or leadership
where the ruler or leader makes all the decisions
without listening to others
aviation huba place where international and intra-
regional air services meet, enabling passengers to
change planes easily for onward travel
ballot paperthe paper on which someone marks
their vote
bicamerala Parliament with two houses, often a
house of representatives and a senate
bilateral agreementan agreement between two
countries
billa proposal for legislation, which when passed by
Parliament becomes an Act
biofuelsfuels made from crops or by-products, such
as woodchip or maize stalks
biogasfuel gas, e.g. methane, made from decaying
manure or vegetation
birth rate the number of children born in one year
per 1000 of the population
black marketmarket which profits from the trade in
scarce or illegal goods
brain drainthe emigration of educated, skilled or
qualified workers
breadwinner the person who goes out to work and
earns an income for the family
Topic 1 The functions of the family
British overseas territoriescountries which come
under the law and sovereignty of Britain
budget a plan for income and expenditure
cabinetthe council which advises the executive,
usually made up of Ministers
campaigna series of activities working towards a
particular result
candidatea person who stands for election as a
Parliamentary representative
capital(1) money or assets invested or used for
business; (2) the main administrative city of a country
carbon emissionscarbon dioxide gas in the
atmosphere, given off by vehicles and industrial
processes
careera life-long occupation or profession, usually
requiring special training
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)an economic
and social organisation of states in the Caribbean
region; the main organisation promoting regional
integration in the Caribbean, set up in 1973
CARICOM Regional Development Funda fund used
to help less developed states achieve similar levels
of prosperity and economic development to more
developed ones so that they can integrate as equal
partners
CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)an
economic organisation of states in the Caribbean
region promoting a single market
Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) an
attempt to integrate the economies of and promote
economic development and cooperation between
ex-British colonies from 1965 to1973
censorshipthe control of the content of all forms
of media
censusa government survey of population which
usually takes place once every ten years
channel a route through which communication
occurs
charismatica type of leadership in which the leader
inspires the followers by his or her personality
child abusemistreatment of children physically,
sexually, emotionally or by neglect or labour
exploitation
civil service the permanent and professional
part of public service which advises Ministers and
implements policy
1
Glossary
climate changechanges in world climate, such as
more extreme weather events, thought to be caused
by global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
coalition governmenta government formed by two
or more parties working together
commercialisationusing something in order to
make money out of it
commodities goods which are bought and sold
common currencya currency shared by more than
one country
common law relationshipa couple who live
together without being married
communication the transfer of ideas, information,
opinions and attitudes from one person to another
communicationsthe forms in which ideas,
information, opinions and attitudes are transmitted
and received
consensual relationshipa union between two
people who are not legally married
conservationpreserving or restoring something for
the future
constituency a group of voters in a particular area
who elect a representative
constitution the set of rules by which a country is
governed
constitutional monarchy a country which has
a monarch as head of state, whose powers are
restrained by the constitution
consumera person or organisation who acquires
goods or services
contraceptionmethods of family planning, to
prevent pregnancy
copyrightlegal ownership and protection for the
creator of a work of art or literature
corruptiondishonest behaviour by someone in
power or authority
credita short-term loan to obtain goods or services
in advance of payment
credit carda small plastic card issued by a bank,
allowing the holder to purchase goods or services in
advance of payment, or to borrow money
credit uniona financial institution owned and run
by its members which provides banking and other
services
crown colonya system of government by which
colonies were governed directly by Britain
cultural diversityvariation in cultural practices,
often the result of ethnic diversity
cultural integrationthe intermixing of different
cultural elements
2
cultural penetration the influencing of one culture
by another
cultural retentionkeeping cultural elements from
the past
culturethe way of life of a people, including beliefs,
patterns of behaviour, interaction and customs,
passed down from one generation to the next
currencya system of money in use in a particular
country
custodyprotective care, guardianship or
imprisonment
death rate the number of deaths per 1000 of the
population each year
debit carda small plastic card issued by a bank,
allowing the holder to obtain cash from their own
bank account, and buy goods and services
deforestationcutting down or removing forests
demandthe willingness of consumers to buy a
product
democracya form of government in which allows
adult citizens to elect representatives
demographythe study of population
dependency ratiothe ratio of the non-working
population (children and older people) to the working
age population
depopulationthe loss of population from a
particular area or country
desertionabandoning another person or family
devaluationreducing the value of a countrys
currency relative to other currencies
developing countrya country which has lower
average income and standards of living than
developed countries and relies on a few export crops
or small number of industries
disposable incomeincome after tax
diversificationmaking something more diverse or
varied, increasing the variety of something, such as
types of industries
divorcewhen a marriage is legally ended
domestic tourista tourist who travels within his or
her own country
domestic violenceabusive, violent or threatening
behaviour within the family or household
e-commercethe use of electronic means for
commercial transactions such as banking or buying
and selling
e-ticketingthe issuing of electronic tickets for
transport and accommodation
economic integrationbringing together the
economies of two or more countries by removing

trade barriers, allowing free movement of people,
goods and capital, and often having a single currency
economic leakageoutflow of foreign exchange
which has just been earned
economic linka link between two businesses,
industries or countries, e.g. where one acts as the
market for something produced by the other
economies of scalesavings in costs per unit
resulting from increased production
eco-tourismtourism which focuses on the natural
environment and tries to be sustainable
egalitarianbased on the principle of equality for all
people
electoral commissionthe body which oversees
elections
electoral registerthe list of voters
electoratethe body of people eligible to vote
emigrationmovement of people out of an area or
country
employmentbeing in paid work
entrepreneura person who sets up and runs a
business
environment everything in the world around us,
including both natural and built elements
environmental impact assessmenta study of
the potential impacts of a development on the
environment
equalitybeing equal in rights or opportunities
ethnic groupa group of people with common
ancestors and a common cultural heritage
exchange ratethe rate at which one countrys
currency can be exchanged for anothers
excursionista person who visits somewhere for the
day but sleeps somewhere else
executivebranch of government with power to
carry out plans, laws, etc.
expectationbelief that a person will do something
extended familya family comprising more than
the nuclear family, who live together; it might include
more than two generations or additional relatives
such as uncles, aunts and cousins
external migrationmigration from one country to
another
family planningcontrolling the number and
spacing of children in a family, usually using
contraception
family treea diagram which shows relationships
between family members over generations
fertility ratethe average number of children which
a woman can expect to have over her lifetime
Glossary
first-past-the-postan electoral system based on
constituencies so that each constituency elects one
representative to Parliament
floating votera person who is undecided which
way to vote
folkwayscultural traditions and patterns of
behaviour established over a long period of time
food securityavailability of a sure supply of food for
household or country
foreign exchangeearnings received in a currency
other than the local currency which can be used to
buy imports
formal groupa social group which has a formal
structure, leadership hierarchy, written rules, etc.
formal schoolingschooling within the mainstream
education system from nursery through primary and
secondary schools to colleges and university
fossil fuelsfuels such as coal, oil and natural gas
that have taken thousands of years to form in the
Earth from dead plants or animals
franchise the right to vote in a general election
freedom of the pressthe right of newspapers
and other media to report information and express
opinions freely
generation gapdifferences between people of
different generations which can sometimes lead to
conflict
geothermal energyenergy which comes from the
heat within the Earth
global warmingthe gradual increase in the
temperature of the Earths atmosphere and seas
caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat in the
atmosphere
globalisationthe process by which the worlds
countries, societies and economies are becoming
more interconnected because of improvements in
transport and communications
glutover-supply of something
goods tangible products
greenhouse effectthe effect caused by greenhouse
gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the
Earths atmosphere, which trap heat from the suns rays
harmonisationthe process of bringing together,
unifying, making compatible, similar or consistent
head of statethe main public representative of a
country, usually a monarch or president
heritagesomething valuable passed down from
one generation to the next
hire purchasesystem by which a person can pay for
something in instalments while using it
3
Glossary
homemakerspouse who is responsible for looking
after the home and children
home-portingwhen a cruise ship has a home or
regular port at which it changes passengers and they
fly out to join the ship there
host country a country to which tourists come, or
immigrants move
human resourcespeople, their skills, education,
qualifications and qualities, used as a resource for
development
human rightsrights outlined by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, many of which are
enshrined in national constitutions
hung parliamentwhen one party does not have an
overall majority of seats
hydro-electricity using the power or flow of water
to generate electricity
identity crisisa problem or issue about a persons
sense of themselves
immigrationpeople moving into a country or area
incestsexual relations between close members of a
family
infant mortality ratethe number of babies who die
in their first year per 1000 live births
inflationgradually increasing prices of most goods
and services
informal groupa social group which does not have
written rules, membership requirements, or formal
leadership
infrastructure basic facilities, structures, equipment
and systems essential to support businesses and daily
life, including transport, communications and utilities,
such as electricity distribution networks
inheritancethe passing of assets or goods from
someone who has died to others
institution(1) a formal secondary group set up for
a particular purpose and enduring over a long time;
(2) a social norm: a generally accepted unwritten
rule or standard of behaviour which reflects agreed
values, endures over time and is passed on from one
generation to the next
integrationthe process of combining,
amalgamating or unifying
interest group a group of people with a common
interest or interests, or common goals, such as a
pressure group
internal migration migration within a country
international migrationmigration from one
country or region to another
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internet bankingusing the internet to transfer
funds, pay bills, check statements, etc.
investmentspending on equipment, machinery,
training or anything else which will increase future
productivity
investment bonds a form of savings issued by
governments or corporations which promise to pay
the owner a specific sum at the end of a fixed period
involuntary groupa social group which members
do not choose to join, such as the family
joint familyan extended family of adult siblings
living together with their partners and children, and
sometimes also including their parents
judiciarythe branch of government which
interprets the law and maintains law and order
juvenile delinquencycriminal activities carried out
by children and young people
labour force everyone of working age who is
working or looking for work
laissez-faire leadershipa style of group leadership
which lets members do as they see fit
legal separationwhen a couple formally separate in
a court of law
legislature the branch of government which makes
a countrys laws
libelan incorrect written and published statement
which damages someones reputation
life expectancythe average number of years which
someone is expected to live
literacythe ability to read and write
maintenance paymentspayments by an absent
parent to maintain a partner and/or children
majority government or absolute majority
a government which has an overall majority of seats
in Parliament
manifestoa document setting out the policies of a
political party
marginalisationwhen someone is or feels sidelined
market a place where something is sold
marketingfinding customers and telling them
about a product
marks of identitysymbols or colours which indicate
group membership
marriagea formal, legal relationship between a
couple
mass mediainstitutions which communicate to
reach a large audience
matriarchal a family in which the mother has the
authority

matrifocal a family headed by a mother or where a
mother is the focal point
matrilinealtracing descent through the mothers line
matrilocala family living with the mothers family
migrationmoving from one place to live in another
mineral resourcesnatural resources extracted from
the Earths rocks, such as coal, bauxite and metal ores
monogamyone man married to one woman
morescultural norms which are strongly held and
reinforce moral values
mortgage a form of loan used to buy a house or
other property
multiculturala society which has different cultures
multilateral agreementan agreement or treaty
between three or more countries or groups of
countries
multinational company or corporationa large
business which operates in many countries
natural increasethe difference between the birth
rate and the death rate
natural resourcesfeatures of the environment
which are not built by humans but which are used by
them
naturalisationthe process by which a foreigner can
become a citizen
net immigrationwhen more people move into an
area or country than move out
net migrationthe difference between the numbers
of people emigrating and immigrating
non-renewable resourcesresources which are not
able to renew themselves, such as fossil fuels and
minerals
normsunwritten rules about acceptable behaviour
nuclear familya family of two parents and their
children, living together
ombudsmanan independent person who
investigates complaints and arranges fair settlements
of disputes, usually between citizens and government
opinion pollssurveys of public opinion, often about
voting intentions
oppositionthe second party in Parliament, which
opposes the government
oral traditionsknowledge, beliefs and customs passed
by word of mouth from one generation to the next
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
a sub-regional organisation of eastern states, set up
in 1981
Parliamenta national elected or representative
body which makes laws
patriarchalfamily in which the father has authority
Glossary
patrifocalfamily in which the father is the main focus
patrilinealtracing descent through the male line
patrilocala family which lives with the fathers
family
peer group (1) a group of friends about the same
age; (2) all the people of about the same age
personal loana loan of money from a financial
institution to an individual
piracyillegal copying and distribution of material
owned by someone else for gain
plagiarismcopying of another persons work and
passing it off as your own
pollutionemission of substances which harm the
environment
polyandrythe marriage of one woman to more
than one husband at the same time
polygamythe marriage of one person to more than
one partner at the same time
polygynythe marriage of one man to more than
one wife at the same time
populationthe number of people living in an area
or country
population densitythe number of people living in
an area, per square kilometre
population distributionthe spread of people across
an area
population pyramida type of graph consisting of
a two-part bar chart which shows the structure of a
population by age and gender
poverty not having enough money or resources to
meet ones needs
pressure groupa group which campaigns, putting
pressure on government and business
primary group a social group of people who
frequently interact face-to-face and know each other
well
primary industries or sectorindustries which
extract natural resources
primary or preventative health carehealth care
designed to prevent illness and the spread of disease
prime ministerthe leader of the government,
usually also the leader of the main political party
procreationreproduction, the biological process of
having children
propagandamedia coverage which intentionally
presents a particular view in order to persuade people
proportional representationan electoral system
in which the number of representatives per party are
directly proportional to the number of votes they
receive
5
Glossary
protocolan agreement added to an existing treaty
which is then binding on the signatories
public servicesservices provided by government
push and pull factorsfactors which encourage
people to migrate away from or towards an area
receiverthe person or organisation which receives
a message
reconstituted or reconstructed familya family
comprising two parents with children from one or
more previous relationships
recyclingprocessing waste materials, such as old
bottles or paper, into new objects
regional integrationthe joining or working
together of countries within a region
regional migrationpeople moving to live elsewhere
within the region
registrarthe official responsible for recording births,
deaths and marriages
regulatory bodiesa government agency which
regulates a particular area of activity
rehabilitation retraining or assistance for people
to return to normal life after a period of illness,
imprisonment or other difficulty
remittances money sent home by migrants working
abroad
renewable resourcesthose resources which are
capable of renewing themselves
representativespeople who represent the views
and interests of the electorate
republica democratic state which has a president
rather than a monarch as head of state
resorta large hotel with many facilities or a tourist
destination with many hotels
resourcesanything natural or built which can be
used by humans
retrenchment when companies cut back their scale
of operations, often resulting in loss of jobs
revenueincome a government receives from taxes,
duties and other sources
ritualan action or ceremony performed in a
customary way
roleexpected behaviour which belongs to a
particular position
role conflictwhen there are conflicts or
disagreements between different roles, e.g. in a family
role modelsomeone who acts as a model in a social
role and whose behaviour is followed by others
rural to urban migrationmovement from the
countryside into the towns and cities
sanctionspenalties for disobeying a rule or law
6
savingsincome not spent but put away for use in
the future
scholarshipa grant made to support a students
education, usually gained by merit
secondary or curative health caremedical services
which aim to treat or cure people, often in hospitals
and clinics
secondary groupa large group with a formal
structure, within which interaction between all
members is not necessarily frequent or face-to-face
secondary industries or sectorindustries which
process natural resources to manufacture goods
secret ballota voting method which ensures that
each persons vote is kept secret
secretariatan administrative office, usually at
government or regional level
self-employmentworking for oneself, owning a
business
senderthe person or organisation who sends a
message
separation of powersthe constitutional principle
that limits and separates the powers of the executive,
legislature and judiciary
servicesintangible actions which satisfy consumers
needs
sexually transmitted diseasesdiseases which are
passed from one person to another during sexual
activity
sibling familya family comprising siblings and
headed by one of them
sibling rivalrycompetition between brothers and
sisters
signalan action, sound or visual sign that
communicates a message
single market countries forming a trade bloc with
free movement of goods and money and a common
policy on trade with outside countries
single-parent familya family with only one parent
living in the household with their children
slander a false spoken statement which damages
someones reputation
smear campaigna campaign by a political party to
discredit their opponents
social agencyan organisation that deals with social
problems
social controlcontrol of individual behaviour by norms,
expectations, rewards, sanctions etc. within society
social groupa group of two or more people who
interact together regularly and usually have some
common purpose

social interactionactions, communications or
relationship between individuals or between groups
social issuea matter of concern or importance
to society
social probleman undesirable behaviour or
conditions which affects many people in society
socialisationthe process by which individuals learn
to become members of society
solar energyusing energy from the sun to make
electricity
special needsmental, emotional, or physical
problems that require special assistance
statussocial position relative to others
street childrenchildren who live on the streets
because they have been abandoned or have run away
from home
substance abusethe use of legal or illegal
substances in a harmful or addictive way
suicide when an individual ends his or her own life
suppliera person or organisation which supplies
goods or services
supplythe quantity of an item available on the market
supply chain or distribution chainthe chain along
which goods pass from manufacturers, wholesalers
and retailers to consumers
supply country a country from which tourists or
migrants originate
sustainable developmentdevelopment that
uses resources in a way that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
symbolsomething that represents or stands for
something else
tariffstaxes on imports and exports
teenage pregnancypregnancy which occurs while
a girl is aged 13 to 19
tertiary industries or sectorindustries which
provide services
thriftthe ability to use money and assets wisely to
get the best use from them
time sharea type of accommodation that is part-
owned by different people who each buy the right to
stay there for a certain length of time each year
tourismthe movement of people from where they
live to somewhere else for leisure, holidays or other
non-work reasons
tourism productsomething that particularly
attracts tourists to a destination or holiday, such as
sandy beaches or a music festival
Glossary
tourist attractionany natural or cultural feature,
event or service which attracts tourists to visit it
trade liberalisationremoving barriers to trade
between countries, such as tariffs, subsidies or quotas,
so that all imports and exports are treated equally
trading blocan agreement between countries,
often part of a single market, which encourages intra-
regional trade
trading patterns the goods and services countries
trade, with whom and in what direction
trafficking (of people)illegal trading or smuggling
transparencyan honest way of doing things which
allows people to see what is being done
treasury billsshort-term government investment
bonds
turnoutnumber or percentage of voters who vote
underdeveloped countrya less-developed or non-
industrialised country with low living standards
underemployed working part-time or in a job for
which someone is too highly skilled or qualified
unemployable a person who does not have the
necessary education, skills, or attitudes to get a job
unemployment ratethe percentage of the
workforce who are looking for work
unicamerala Parliament with only one house or
chamber
union (1) a marriage or family partnership between
two people; (2) a group of workers joined together to
represent their interests to employers
universal adult suffrage or franchisewhen all adults
(people over the age of 18) have the right to vote
unplanned pregnancya pregnancy which occurs
accidentally or is unintended
urban to rural migrationmovement of people from
the town or city to the countryside
urbanisation increasing numbers of people living in
towns and cities
visiting relationshipa long-term sexual relationship
between a couple who do not live together
visitora person who visit somewhere for less than
24 hours
voluntary groupa social group which members do
choose to join
voter participation or turnoutthe percentage of
eligible or registered voters who actually vote
West Indies Federation (WFI)an attempt at regional
integration by British colonies, from 1958 to 1962
willa document in which someone specifies how
his or her estate should be managed and distributed
after his or her death