American Government Flashcards
Government
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
Legislative power
The power to make laws
Executive power
The power to execute, enforce, and administer the law
Judicial power
The power to interpret laws and determine their meaning
Democracy
A form of government in which the supreme authority rests with the people
Sovereign
Having supreme power within one’s territory
Majority rule
The idea that the biggest group of people will be right more often than they are wrong
Citizen
A member of a state or nation entitled to full civil rights
Limited government
Principle that states that the government is restricted in what it may do
Representative government
System in which public policies are made by officials selected by voters
Due process
The government must act fairly and in accord with established rules in all that it does
Popular sovereignty
Basic principle that says that people are the source of any and all governmental power
Delegate
A representative
Connecticut compromise
Agreement that congress should be composed of senate and a house of representative
Separation of powers
Principle that divides government between three independent/coequal branches
Checks and balances
System that permits the three branches of government to check the actions of others
