Definition

Question 1

Absolutism

Answer 1

Typical form of government in the Ancient Regime. The king had the three powers: executive, legislative and judiciary. Sovereignty is justified thanks to its divine origin (king is the human representation of God)

Question 2

Democracy

Answer 2

FORM OF GOVERNMENT in which the inhabitants had the power directly or by voting a representative. Democracy made slow progress since 19th century in some European countries and in United States

Question 3

Despotism

Answer 3

FORM OF GOVERNMENT in some European political regimes, developed in the second half of the 18th century in which monarch tried to impose absolutism with the new ideas of Enlightenment. These monarch made social and economical reforms. “Everything for the people but without the people”. Enlightened minister introduced these types of reforms

Question 4

Dictatorship

Answer 4

POLITICAL REGIME imposed by force and characterised by disappearing freedoms, use of violence in case of opposition and removing political parties. Power is concentrated in a person, group or institution

Question 5

Economic liberalism

Answer 5

THEORY based on freedom in all sector of the economy. The most important representative
of this was Adam Smith, he opposed to the intervention of the State in the economy

Question 6

Enlightenment

Answer 6

Intellectual MOVEMENT originated in France in the 18th century. Their ideas were: confidence in reason for more knowledge and in the unlimited progres of the humans and the critical spirit

Question 7

Estate

Answer 7

INDIVIDUALS that share characteristics (relationship to production system and in the economic activities they carry out). Three estates: nobility (privileged), clergy (privileged) and third estate (non-privileged)

Question 8

Locke

Answer 8

English PHILOSOPHER, father of liberalism, defend that a government should have a king and a parliament in where express the popular sovereignty wishes and where legislation is made no only for the people but for all

Question 9

Montesquieu

Answer 9

ENLIGHTENED that proposed a monarchy with a separation of power: executive, legislative and judicial. He defend the parliamentary monarchy as a form of government where the executive power where in hands of the king and his minister, the legislative power where in different hands and the judicial power where in hands of judges

Question 10

Nation

Answer 10

GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS with specific links (cultural, linguistic and economic) with a common history that gives them a wish to creat their own institutions and to build a state

Question 11

National sovereignty

Answer 11

POLITICAL PRINCIPLE used by the liberal revolution, to oppose the sovereignty of the prince, characteristic of the Old Regime. The state power relies on the nation

Question 12

Old/ancient regime

Answer 12

Political, economic and social SYSTEM. Its include the absolute power of the monarch, social inequality based on the estate, a predominant agrarian and subsistence economy and low population growth

Question 13

Republic

Answer 13

FORM OF STATE ORGANISATION in which the head of state is chosen by direct or indirect election by the citizens. The duration of the president, its functions and power is determinate by the Constitution

Question 14

Restricted suffrage

Answer 14

Restricted ELECTORAL VOTING SYSTEM, in which only citizens included in a census based on income and education had political rights

Question 15

Rights declaration or bill of right

Answer 15

DOCUMENT which thanks to the Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England, limited the king’s power, guaranteed elections and give powers to Parliament

Question 16

Rousseau

Answer 16

FRENCH PHILOSOPHER that critiqued the social structure and defend a society where citizens could decide. He also critic the divine origin of the king’s power. He proposed a “social contract” (constitution) between governor and citizens

Question 17

Parliamentary monarchy

Answer 17

FORM OF GOVERNMENT in which the king or monarch where head of state, position that is inherited by blood linage. Legislative power is ruled by the parliament and executive power is ruled by the government, different like the absolute monarchy where there is no division of powers

Question 18

Separation of powers

Answer 18

POLITICAL PROPOSAL that proposed the separation of powers of the state into diferente institutions, one serving as a counterbalance to the other

Question 19

Social contract/constitution

Answer 19

BASIC LAW of any State passed by the representatives of the nation. It established a political system, recognised civil rights and defended national sovereignty

Question 20

Universal suffrage

Answer 20

ELECTORAL SYSTEM in which the citizens of legal age can vote without discriminations . Until the early 20th century, this system didn’t include womans

Question 21

Voltaire

Answer 21

FRENCH PHILOSOPHER that critiqued religious fanaticism and the structure of the Church. He proposed limiting kings power following the English model