CIVICS

Apartheid refers to the implementation and maintenance of a system of legalized racial segregation in which one racial group is deprived of political and civil rights.

APN is the shorthand for assessor’s parcel number. 

[Last reviewed in December of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Appellant is the party who appeals a lower court's judgment or order to a higher court.

The applicable exclusion amount (also known as unified credit) refers to the total gifts and estate transfers exempted from an individual’s gift and estate taxes. Every U.S. citizen has an applicable exclusion amount for all gifts made inter vivos or estate transfers at death.

An appropriations bill is a piece of legislation that indicates where public funds are to be allocated in a budget. 

Armed conflicts are contextualized into two different categories: international armed conflicts and domestic armed conflicts. International armed conflicts occur when there is conflict between two or more states. Domestic armed conflicts occur when there is conflict between a state and one or more non-state armed groups or among non-state armed groups.

The Arms Export Control Act authorizes the President to control the import and export of defense articles and services. If the President chooses, they can issue a license to an individual or organization that wishes to export defense articles or services. Otherwise, exportation of these items is not permitted. Decisions on whether to issue an export license for the defense

An arraignment is the first step in a criminal proceeding where the defendant is brought in front of the court to hear the charges against them and enter a plea.

An arrest is the use of legal authority to deprive a person of their freedom of movement.