chapter 1 Flashcards
the institution through which a society makes and enforces public policy
government
all the things a government decides to do
public policies
power to make laws and frame public policies
legislative power
power to enforce, execute, and administer laws
executive power
the power to interpret laws
judicial power
the body of fundamental laws, setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
constitution
power is held by a single person or small group
dicatatorship
supreme authority rests with the people
democracy
a legal entity, often referred to as a state or union
state
having supreme power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies
sovereign
government in which a single person holds unlimited power
autocracy
government in which a small, self-appointed elite group holds the power
oligarchy
a centralized government with all powers belonging to a strong, central agency
unitary government
the powers of government are divided by a central and local government
federal government
both levels of government act directly on the people through their own laws
division of powers
an alliance of independent states
confederation
separation of power between an executive and legislative branch
presidential government
the executive branch is made up of a prime minister and a cabinet who are also a part of the legislative branch
parliamentary government
holds that a majority will be right more often than it’s wrong
majority rule
the process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests
compromise
one who holds both rights and responsibilities in a state
citizen
economic system characterized by private ownership of capital goods
free enterprise system
