Nobody can explain you such matters. It's like asking someone to briefly explain Quantum Mechanics. You will never truly understand a word unless you learn everything you need to know first. This is especially true in law and politics because things can be ambiguous and often times people deliberately want to deceive you.
If you are pro civil activism, take the time and effort and learn how to read documents. Otherwise you are just lying to yourself so you can feel warm and fuzzy.
