Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
 The vocabulary/event cards on the following pages can be used for a number of activities.
The remaining information will describe some of these activities.
 Who or What Am I? Task Rotation: Students are put in groups of 2-3. Each student is
required to write his/her own answers on their own paper to turn in. The teacher provides
each group with a Who or What Am I? card. In a designated amount of time (a minute or
less is typical), students should write down the answer to the Who or What Am I? card on
their own paper. The group does not have to agree. Groups can be given a word bank or
come up with answers on their own. After a minute or less, the teacher or a buzzer
indicates for the students to rotate the cards. Prior to the start of the activity, the teacher
should go over the procedures with students about the direction of the rotation and the
student responsible for the task rotation in each group. At the end of the activity, go over
the answers with the students.
 Password or Pyramid: Pair students. Provide each pair a set of vocabulary/event cards.
Player #1 looks at the first word and begins saying words associated with this vocabulary
word. The goal is for the other player(s) to guess the word. For example, the vocabulary
word is “transpiration.” Player #1 may say, “plants, breathing, carbon dioxide, oxygen…”
until someone yells out transpiration. A new person takes over the role of Player #1. Play
continues until all cards have been used. Vocabulary/Event cards can be used with just the
title on one side or use vocabulary/event cards with clues on the opposite side.
 It’s In the Bag: The teacher divides the classroom into groups of three or four. Each group
gets a bag (that is not transparent) with a set of vocabulary cards. Students take turns
pulling two cards at a time out of the bag. The student must either use both words in the
same sentence or tell how the two words are connected. The remaining members of the
group decide whether the sentence or connection identified is correct/appropriate. If the
group agrees the answer is correct, the student keeps his/her two cards and another
student takes a turn. If the group agrees the answer is incorrect, the student puts both
cards back in the bag and another student takes a turn. The winner of the game is the
student that has the most cards when all cards have been removed from the bag.
 Go Fish: Students are put in groups of 3 or 4 to play the game. Deal four cards to each
player, then place the remaining cards face-down in the center of the playing area.
Students must take turns asking other group members for cards that will complete a set
(word, definition). Once a set is complete, the student puts that set to the side. The student
that uses all of his/her cards first wins. The teacher should decide ahead of time how
he/she wants the students to request cards (either by asking for specific cards or by using
higher level thinking by having to ask for cards in more descriptive ways).
 Terminoes: Each card will be placed in a shuffled deck. Students are put in groups of 2-3.
One card is placed face-up on the table. The remaining cards are distributed equally
among the group members. Each player takes turns laying down one of his/her cards so
that it touches one side of any other card on the table (without overlapping). In order to do
this though, the student has to explain how the two words are connected. Player can not
connect two cards that contain the same vocabulary term. The group must decide if the
player has made a correct connection. If there is disagreement, the teacher should be
called as the referee. When a group member has used all of his/her cards, they have won
the game.
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Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
 Five-Word Story: Students select five words at random and use the five words in a short
story
 Kaboom: Place the cards in a container or a bag that students cannot see through. In small
groups of 2 to 3, each student will take a turn pulling out a card. If the student can answer
the question correctly, he/she keeps the card. Students continue to take turns collecting
cards for right answers. If a student pulls a Kaboom card, the student must put all of their
cards back into the bag. The game ends when all cards have been removed from the bag.
The winner of the game is the student with the most cards.
 Board Games: Use generic board games with the cards to review content with students.
Generic board games can be printed then laminated for use in multiple units. Generic board
games can be found online through searches and also samples are linked online at:
http://troup612resources.troup.k12.ga.us/Instructional%20Strategies%20&%20Resources/Strategies.
htm#top
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Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
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Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
Copy directly on the back of Page 3. Remember numbers and answers are reversed when
copied.
Power to make laws and
Power is held by one
decisions for the people
central authority. The
is shared or divided
central authority has all
between one central
the power to make laws
government and several
and decisions for the
regional authorities
people.
Voluntary association of
independent states that
make their own laws, but
are loosely aligned to a
weak central gov’t with a
common purpose
One person possesses
unlimited power; the
citizen has limited, if
any, role in the
government.
Rule of one.
Rule of a few. A small
group exercises control;
the citizen has a very
limited role in the
government
Gov’t where the people
elect a representative
who is constitutionally
independent of the
legislature. Leader is
called a president.
Gov’t where people elect
A level of material
legislature; power is held by comfort as measured by
a cabinet of members of the
the goods, services, and
legislature who are
luxuries available to an
accountable to the
individual, group, or
legislature; Prime Minister is
nation
often the leader
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Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
Copy directly on the back of Page 5. Remember numbers and answers are reversed when
copied.
Buyers and sellers
answer the three
economic questions of
what, how, and for
whom to produce
When the economy of a
country shows
characteristics of both a
command and market
economy
System in which
economic decisions are
based on customs and
beliefs
The government makes
all the economic
decisions and answers
the questions of what,
how, and for whom to
produce
Type of trade barrier that
forbids trade with
another country
When one country can
produce a good or
service at a lower
opportunity cost than
another country
A method by which money
from one country is
The number of people in
converted into the currency
an area that can read
of another country to pay
and write
for goods and services in
that country
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Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
Copy directly on the back of page 7. Remember numbers and answers are reversed when
copied.
A measurement of the
total goods and services
produced in a country in
one year
When individuals or
groups have an idea for
a good or service and
take the risk to produce
it
The people who perform
labor and the education
and training needed to
make them more
productive
The factories,
machinery, and
technology used to
produce goods and
services
Materials or substances
A trade barrier that
that occur in nature and
places a tax on imported
can be used for
goods
economic gain
An instrument for
A type of trade barrier
showing how economic
that places a limit on the
systems relate to each
amount of a good that
other on a scale of more
can be imported into a
government control vs.
country
less government control
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Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
Copy directly on the back of Page 9. Remember numbers and answers are reversed when
copied.
An instrument for showing
how government systems
relate to each other on a
scale of more government
control vs. less
government control
Involves countries from
all over the world
engaging in voluntary
trade
Occurs when both or all
countries expect to gain
from trading with one
another
Providing money,
resources, or
opportunities in order to
gain profitable returns in
the future
Branch of government
that makes laws
Branch of government
that enforces laws
In a Parliamentary
Democracy, this person is
more of a ceremonial leader.
In a Presidential Democracy,
this person is also the Head
of Government
In a Parliamentary
Democracy, this person is
responsible for running the
gov’t. Often called a Prime
Minister. In a Presidential
Democracy, this person is
also the Head of State.
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Economics & Gov’t Vocabulary Cards
Copy directly on the back of Page 11. Remember numbers and answers are reversed when
copied.
When branches of
When branches of a
government are
government can
separate bodies elected overrule other branches
independently by the
of the government to
citizens of a country
limit the control of power
Distribution of Power…
Distribution of power…
Below is an Economic Continuum. The X
located on the continuum would represent
which type of Economic System?
X
Less
Government
Control
More
Government
Control
Distribution of power…
Below is a Continuum showing the
distribution of power in governments. The X
located on the continuum would represent
which type of Government System?
Below is an Economic Continuum. The X
located on the continuum would represent
which type of Economic System?
X
More
Government
Control
X
Less
Government
Control
Strong
Central
Government
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Shared
Government
Weak
Central
Government
Vocabulary/Event Cards KEY
Remember cards and numbers are reversed when sent through the copy machine. The
answer key reflects this reversal.
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Unitary
Autocratic
Presidential Democracy
Standard of Living
Federal
Confederation
Oligarchic
Parliamentary Democracy
Mixed
Command Economy
Specialization
Literacy Rate
Market Economy
Traditional Economy
Embargo
Currency Exchange
Entrepreneurship
Physical Capital
Tariff
Economic Continuum
Gross Domestic Product
Human Capital
Natural Resources
Quota
International Trade
Investment
Executive Branch
Head of Government
Government Continuum
Voluntary Trade
Legislative Branch
Head of State
Checks and Balances
Confederation
Command Economy
Confederation
Separation of Powers
Unitary
Federal
Market Economy
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