Chapter 1 - Foundations of Government Flashcards
The formal structures and institutions through which a territory and its people are ruled.
Government
The government’s authority and ability to get things done.
Power
Any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular goal.
Policy
A political unit made up by a group of people that lives within a clearly defined territory.
State
Ultimate, supreme power in a state; in the United States, it rests with the people.
Sovereignty
The process by which government makes ad carries out decisions.
Politics
Not limited by restriction.
Absolute
Right and proper.
Legitimacy
The theory that a monarch rules by sanction, or approval, of God.
Divine Right of Kings
A system of rules/laws/rights derived from a natural world (we are given them by birth, being here).
Natural Law / Rights
A theory of society in which government is a contract between a government and the governed to provide protection and support for the people; under this, a government is legitimate so long as the people voluntarily agree to hand over their power to the state.
Social Contract Theory
A form of government in which political power is exercised by a single ruler, such as a king or queen, who exercises absolute authority under the claim of divine / hereditary right.
Monarchy
A form of authoritarian government in which the government is ruled by religious leaders.
Theocracy
The leader / King / Queen of a government has unlimited power.
Absolute Monarchy
The leader / King / Queen has limited power, they are figureheads - limited by law. (UK)
Constitutional Monarchy
An indirect form of democracy in which people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Republic / Direct Democracy
A form of government in which citizens met regularly in a popular assembly to discuss issues of the day, pass laws, and vote for leaders. (Athens, Switzerland)
Direct Democracy
“Rule by the people”
Democracy
A system of rule in which one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can hold unlimited power over government, which is usually controlled by force.
Dictatorship
“Rule by one person” (Cuba)
Autocracy
Rule by a few short groups of people, usually member of the military or the economic elite. (Sparta)
Oligarchy
A form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life. (China, North Korea)
Totalitarian
A form of government in which all authority is vested in a central government from which regional and local governments derive their powers. (UK)
Unitary System
An alliance of independent states manifesting a degree of national unity through a central government of united powers (e.g. the United States under the Articles of Confederation)
Confederal System
A form of political organization in which power is divided among a central government and territorial subdivisions; in the US power is shared among the national, state, and local governments.
Federal System
A form of government headed by a president who is elected by the people for a limited term of office and whose powers are balanced by an elected legislature. (US)
Presidential System
A for of government in which the chief executive is the leader whose party holds the most seats in the legislature after an election or whos party forms a major part of the ruling coalition.
Parliamentary System
Conception of something in its most perfect form.
Ideal
The ability of people to act and think as they choose, so long as their choices do not harm to the liberty or well being of others.
Liberty
The principle that all people posses a fundamental, moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment under the law and equal opportunity in all aspects of life - political, social, and economic.
Equality
The belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and do so as political equals.
Self-government
A basic principle of democracy that decisions are made by a majority, by getting more than half the votes cast.
Majority rule
The political rights held by groups that make up less than half the population.
Minority rights
A form of democracy that protects the rights of the minority.
Liberal Democracy
An economic system in which individuals and businesses are free to engage in economic activity with a minimum of government interference.
Free enterprise
