PSLCE Social & Religious Studies key terms

A group of people who live in the same area or share common interests and work together. Members usually help one another and follow shared rules and customs.

A local leader chosen by a community to settle disputes, organize communal work, and represent the village to higher traditional authorities. The role is usually hereditary within a family line.

A chief who governs a group of villages under customary law. The Traditional Authority settles land and family disputes and advises government on local matters.

Unwritten rules based on long-standing community practice that govern marriage, inheritance, land use, and dispute settlement. Courts may apply it where it does not conflict with written law.

The total way of life of a people, including language, food, dress, music, dance, beliefs, and ceremonies. It is learned and passed from one generation to the next.

A custom, belief, or practice handed down from earlier generations and still followed today. Examples include initiation ceremonies, wedding customs, and harvest celebrations.

A community of people sharing a common language, ancestry, and cultural practices. Malawi has many such groups, including Chewa, Yao, Tumbuka, Lomwe, and Tonga.

A rite marking a young person's passage into adulthood, often including instruction on morals, hygiene, and community duties. Some practices have been criticized for exposing children to harm.

A masked dance performed by the Nyau society among the Chewa people, usually at funerals and initiation rites. UNESCO recognizes it as intangible cultural heritage.

The legal status of belonging to a state, which gives a person rights such as voting and protection, and duties such as obeying laws and paying taxes.

A duty a person owes to the wider community, such as obeying laws, paying taxes, keeping the environment clean, and helping in community projects. It is not enforced by punishment alone.

The legal bond between a person and a country, acquired by birth, descent, marriage, or naturalization. A Malawian citizen may hold nationality by birth or by registration.

The legal process by which a foreigner becomes a citizen of a country after meeting requirements such as residence, good conduct, and language knowledge.

Giving time and effort freely to help others or improve the community without payment. Examples include cleaning a market, teaching literacy, or joining a village development committee.

The supreme law of a country. It sets out the structure of government, the powers of each branch, and the rights of citizens, and no other law may contradict it.

The principle that the executive, legislature, and judiciary should be separate so that no single body holds all power. Each branch checks the others.

The branch of government that implements laws and runs public services. In Malawi it is headed by the President, assisted by a Vice-President and Cabinet ministers.

The law-making branch of government. In Malawi this is Parliament, made up of elected members who debate and pass bills and approve the national budget.

The branch of government that interprets laws and settles disputes through courts. It is expected to be independent so that judges decide cases without political pressure.

A proposed law presented to Parliament for debate. It becomes an Act only after passing through readings and receiving presidential assent.

The principle that everyone, including leaders and government officials, is subject to the law and must be treated equally under it. It prevents arbitrary rule.

Basic freedoms and protections that every person is entitled to simply by being human, such as life, dignity, education, and freedom of expression. They apply regardless of sex, tribe, or religion.

The section of a constitution that lists and protects citizens' fundamental freedoms. In Malawi it appears in Chapter Four of the Constitution and courts can enforce it.

Special protections for people under eighteen, including rights to education, health care, protection from abuse, and a name. They are set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Work that harms a child's health, safety, or education, or that is done instead of attending school. It is different from light household chores suitable for a child's age.

A scaled drawing of an area of land or sea seen from above. It uses symbols, a key, and directions to show features such as roads, rivers, and settlements.

The relationship between distance on a map and the real distance on the ground. A scale of 1:50,000 means one centimetre on the map represents half a kilometre on the ground.

A line on a map joining points of equal height above sea level. Closely spaced contours show a steep slope, while widely spaced ones show gentle ground.

A set of numbers that locates a point on a map using numbered vertical and horizontal lines. A four-figure reference gives a square; a six-figure reference gives a precise spot.

A long, low trough formed where the earth's crust has sunk between faults. The Great Rift Valley runs through Malawi, holding Lake Malawi and the Shire Valley.

A large freshwater lake forming much of Malawi's eastern border with Tanzania and Mozambique. It supports fishing, transport, and tourism and drains south into the Shire River.

The natural surroundings in which people, plants, and animals live, including land, water, air, and forests. Its health depends on how resources are used and protected.

Things found in nature that people use to meet their needs, such as soil, water, fish, forests, and minerals. Some are renewable and others are used up once extracted.

The clearing of forests for farming, fuel, or building. It causes soil erosion, silting of rivers, and loss of habitat, and worsens flooding downstream.

The wearing away of topsoil by rain, wind, or poor farming methods. It reduces crop yields and fills rivers with silt, and is slowed by terracing and tree planting.

The careful management and protection of natural resources so that they remain available for future generations. Examples include tree planting, fish breeding areas, and protected parks.

A system of belief and worship concerning a supreme being or spiritual powers, usually with sacred writings, moral teachings, and communal practices.

A faith centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, holding that he is the Son of God. Its holy book is the Bible, and its main branches are Catholic and Protestant.

A faith founded on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who Muslims believe received revelation from God. Its holy book is the Qur'an, and its followers are called Muslims.

Indigenous beliefs and practices of African peoples, often involving a supreme being, ancestral spirits, and ceremonies for rain, harvest, and healing. It is passed on orally.

Principles that guide people to tell right from wrong, such as honesty, respect, fairness, and kindness. They are taught by families, schools, and religious groups.

The abuse of public or private office for personal gain, for example through bribes or stealing public funds. It damages trust and reduces money available for services.