Chapter One Flashcards
Public policy
All the things the government decides to do such as taxes, education, health care, civil rights, transportation, etc.
Legislative
To make laws and public policy
Executive
Execute, enforce, and administer laws
Judicial
Settle disputes and interpret laws
Constitution
A body of fundamental laws setting out the principals, structures and processes of government
Dictatorship
Small group or an individual where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people
Democracy
Supreme authority rests with the people; responsibility for the exercise of these powers rests with a majority of the people
State
A body of people, living in a defined territory, population, government, and sovereignty
Territory
The area within a boundary that separates one nation from another
Sovereignty
The state has absolute authority within its boundaries; decides its own foreign and domestic policies; not responsible to any other authority
Direct democracy
Vote on all issues
Indirect/representative democracy
Representatives vote
Autocracy
One person rules
Oligarchy
Small group rules
Authoritarian
Government holds absolute power over people
Totalitarian
Government exercises complete control over all aspects of people’s lives
Unitary
Centralized government- national government system above local government
Federal
Powers are divided between national and local governments- coequal
Confederate
Alliance of independent states- local above the national government
Presidential
Executive and legislative are separate President is chosen independently Checks in branches Written constitution
Parliamentary
Executive is made up of prime minister and official’s cabinets PM remains in office as long as he has confidence of leading party in government
Citizenship
One who has both rights and responsibilities in a state
Free enterprise system
Economic system characterized by the private ownership of capital goods, investments made by private decisions, and success or failure determined by competition in the market place Capitalism
Government
A system that controls how a country operates. The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policy.
All the things the government decides to do such as taxes, education, health care, civil rights, transportation, etc.
Public policy
To make laws and public policy
Legislative
Execute, enforce, and administer laws
Executive
Settle disputes and interpret laws
Judicial
A body of fundamental laws setting out the principals, structures and processes of government
Constitution
Small group or an individual where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people
Dictatorship
Supreme authority rests with the people; responsibility for the exercise of these powers rests with a majority of the people
Democracy
A body of people, living in a defined territory, population, government, and sovereignty
State
The area within a boundary that separates one nation from another
Territory
The state has absolute authority within its boundaries; decides its own foreign and domestic policies; not responsible to any other authority
Sovereignty
Vote on all issues
Direct democracy
Representatives vote
Indirect/representative democracy
One person rules
Autocracy
Small group rules
Oligarchy
Government holds absolute power over people
Authoritarian
Government exercises complete control over all aspects of people’s lives
Totalitarian
Centralized government- national government system above local government
Unitary
Powers are divided between national and local governments- coequal
Federal
Alliance of independent states- local above the national government
Confederate
Executive and legislative are separate President is chosen independently Checks in branches Written constitution
Presidential
Executive is made up of prime minister and official’s cabinets PM remains in office as long as he has confidence of leading party in government
Parliamentary
One who has both rights and responsibilities in a state
Citizenship
Economic system characterized by the private ownership of capital goods, investments made by private decisions, and success or failure determined by competition in the market place Capitalism
Free enterprise system
A system that controls how a country operates. The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policy.
Government
Mixed economy
an economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation
an economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation
Mixed economy
What are the four factors of a free enterprise system?
Private ownership, individual initiative, profit, and competition
What are the four characteristics of a state?
Government, territory, citizens, sovereignty
What are the six purposes of the American system of government?
Form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty
What are the five concepts of democracy?
fundamental worth of the individual, equality of all persons, majority rule/minority right, necessity of compromise, and individual freedom
What is evolutionary theory?
state originated in the family
What is divine right theory?
God gave individuals or groups the right to rule
What is force theory?
person/group forces control over an area of people
What is the social contract theory and who came up with it?
people within a given area agree to give up to the state as much power as was needed to promote the safety and well-being of the people
John Locke
What does compromise help do?
It is the way citizens can make pubic policy
