Words in the news.

Below are some key terms used in this issue of Current Events.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) (page 3) The IMF was created in 1945 to promote growth, economic stability, and trade worldwide. Its founders wanted to avoid a repeat of the Great Depression. The IMF's roles today include advising world leaders, working to reduce poverty, and helping countries rebuild after wars and financial crises. It is one of the world's largest public Lenders. The IMF, a specialized agency of the United Nations, is governed by its 185 member nations, each of which contributes to the IMF's finances based on its own ability to pay. Learn more at www.imf.org.

Voter Registration (page 4) Any U.S. citizen who is at toast 18 years old may register to vote, though convicted felons are not allowed to vote in some states. Voter registration duties fall to each state. Check your secretary of state's Web site for state-specific details. Groups such as Rock the Vote provide a national voter registration application; however, the final application stilt must be mailed to the correct local or state office. In most states, a person must register to vote at toast two weeks before an election. For more information about voter registration, go to www.eac.gov.