chapter 1 Flashcards
Governments three main components
people power policies
what is made up of the formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made
Government
government includes what two types of people
elected officials and public servants
governments authority to get things done
power
what does the legislative executive and judicial branch do?
make laws, enforce laws, interpret the laws
decisions made by government to reach a goal
policy
a political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people in a territory
state
the four traits of a state
population, territory, government, sovereignity
the world’s chief body for international cooperation
united nations
supreme power to act within its territory and to control its external affairs
sovereignty
our government’s five functions
ensure national security,maintaining order, resolve conflict, provide services, provide for the public good
process by which government makes and carry out decisions also about debating issues
politics
how does a state enforce sovereignty
constitution
three main theories of rule
divine right, natural law/natural rights, social contract
based on a system of rules derived from the natural world and is to provide a just and rational order
natural law
governments formed as a result of people agreeing among themselves
social contract theory
an example of autocracy, form of govt where a single individual controls most governing decisions
monarchy
a small group that holds all authority and makes all decisions uses violence to maintain rule
dictatorship
dictator holds ultimate authority no limits on government
totalitarian regimes
small group of people that make most government decisions for their own benefit
aristocracy
rulers claim to be directed by religious ideas and are rooted in a particular religion
theocracy
“rule by the people”
democracy
works best in small communities where people can meet face to face and citizens have the source of authority
direct democracy
indirect form of democracy where citizens elect others to make government decision on their behalf
Representative Democrazy
most national governments consist of a number of smaller administrative units like:
states, cities and provinces
where local levels of government may be active and important agencies of rule but the national government has ultimate rule
unitare systems
government that divides power over people and a territory between a national government and smaller regional levels of government
federal system
the federal system is an american invention that attempts to balance national power and states rights known as
federalism
each level has the power to act independently of the other level
American federalism
allows people and businesses to make their own decisions
free enterprise
two opposing sides sum up differences and come to an agreement
compromise
is distinguished by having a president that is elected for a limited time in office
presidential system
who is in charge of the executive of government
president
who has the power to declare war
congress
when the executive branch and legislative branch are combined as one are known as
parliamentary system
in a parliamentary system who is mainly in charge
prime minister
statement or vote that a person in a leadership position is no longer fit to be in charge
vote of no confidence
