1A Vocab

Question 1

Limited government

Answer 1

Governmental power is restricted or limited by law, usually in a written constitution

Question 2

Natural rights

Answer 2

The rights of all people to dignity and worth

Question 3

Popular sovereignty

Answer 3

A doctrine in political theory that government is created by and subject to the will of the people

Question 4

Republicanism

Answer 4

Form of representational government in which leaders are elected for a specific period by the majority of the citizenry, and laws are passed by these leaders for the benefit of the entire republic

Question 5

Social contract

Answer 5

A “contract” in which a group of people agree to give up certain rights and accept a central authority in order to protect their other rights

Question 6

Declaration of Independence

Answer 6

Formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain

Question 7

The Grand Committee

Answer 7

Committee organized at the Constitutional Convention that was created to solve the issue of how to apportion representatives in the national legislatures

Question 8

Democracy

Answer 8

Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections

Question 9

Direct democracy

Answer 9

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly

Question 10

Initiative

Answer 10

Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters

Question 11

Referendum

Answer 11

Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution

Question 12

Recall

Answer 12

Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term

Question 13

Representative democracy

Answer 13

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic

Question 14

Participatory democracy

Answer 14

Emphasizes broad, direct participation in politics and civil society, in which most or all citizens participate in politics directly

Question 15

Pluralist democracy

Answer 15

Political power rests with competing interest groups so that no one group dominates political decisions

Question 16

Elite democracy

Answer 16

A small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well educated, influence political decision making

Question 17

Popular consent

Answer 17

The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs

Question 18

Majority rule

Answer 18

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority

Question 19

Majority

Answer 19

The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election

Question 20

Plurality

Answer 20

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half

Question 21

Constitutionalism

Answer 21

The set of arrangements, including checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and a bill of rights, that requires our leaders to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act or make laws. We then hold them politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers.

Question 22

Statism

Answer 22

The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation

Question 23

Theocracy

Answer 23

Government by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance