Chapter 3 - The Roots Of American Democracy Flashcards
Representative government
A political system in which power is exercised by elected leaders who work in the interest of the people
Rule of law
The principle that government is based on clear and fairly enforced laws and that no one is above the law
Limited government
A political system in which the powers exercised by the government are restricted, usually by a written constitution
Individual rights
The rights and liberties that can be claimed by individuals by virtue of being human. Such rights are also sometimes referred to as natural rights or human rights
Separation of powers
The idea that the powers of a government should be split between two or more strongly independent branches to prevent any one person or group from gaining too much power
Popular sovereignty
The principle that the people are the ultimate source of the authority and legitimacy of a government
Constitutionalism
The belief that the government should operate according to an agreed set of principles, which are usually spelled out in a written constitution
Majority rule
The idea that decisions approved by more than half of the people in a group or society will be accepted and observed by all of the people
