Final Vocab Flashcards
civil disobedience
Refusal to obey unjust laws
arbitrary
Selected at random and without reason.
bill of rights
A list of rights and freedoms or civil liberties considered essential to the people.
balance of power
A political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to pose a threat to others.
censorship
Examining written material and removing or prohibiting anything considered objectionable.
collective security
Nations act together to stop aggression
civil liberties
Basic individual rights
conservative
People who oppose change and prefer keeping things as they are.
constitution
Basic prinicples and laws of a nation or state that determine the powers and durites of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it.
democracy
Government controlled by the people for the people.
racism
Racial prejudice or discrimination
diplomacy
Making of agreements and settling differences by officials to establish peaceful relations.
divine right
The theory that the basis for royal authority is a God-given right to rule.
due process of law
Administration of law in known orderly ways to protect people’s rights. The accused has a right to a jury trial and to the protection of the law.
empire
Many nations, territories and peoples controlled by one government.
equality
No privileges in society, opportunity for all.
coalition
Temporary union or alliance between groups that are usually on different sides, created to accomplish a common goal.
imperialism
The expansion of one nation’s power through occupation and domination of another nation’s political, social and economic life.
idealism
Behavior or thought based on a conception of things as one thinks they should be.
doctrine/ideology
Beliefs or philosophy of an individual, group or institution. A set of ideas
individualism
The belief that the ideas and rights of individual people are important in a society.
entrepreneur
A person who organizes, manages, and takes on the risks of a business
innovation
New idea, method or device
justice
Fairness, reward or penalty as deserved.
privilege
A special advantage that is given only to one person or group of people.
law
All the rules of conduct or behavior established by the authority or customs of a nation.
exploit
To make unethical use of for one’s own profit or gain.
liberal
People who want to work within the existing system to make changes or bring about reform
liberty
Freedom, equal rights, choice
moderate
Within reasonable limits, avoiding extremes.
nationalism
A feeling of loyalty to one’s own land and people.
nation-state
A group of people who share similar traditions, history and language. This group usually lives in the same geographic area and is united under a common government.
oppress (oppression)
To keep down by the cruel or unjust use of authority.
popular sovereignty
The government gets its power from the people.
radical
People who want drastic change and, if necessary, violent change.
reactionary
Someone who wants change, but wants to retreat into the past and restore the old order of things and is willing to use violence to accomplish their goals.
subsistence
The barest means of sustaining livelihood
reform
Change for the better.
regime
A period of rule.
republic
A form of government controlled by the people through elected representatives.
revolution
A great / drastic change. To overthrow or overturn the existing way of doing things.
secular
Not religious; not connected to the church.
hierarchical
arranging things one above the other by rank or levels of importance
status quo
Keeping things as they are. No change.
tolerance
Willingness to allow people to do, say or believe what they want without criticizing or punishing them.
tyrant / tyranny
An absolute ruler who is harsh and oppressive.
sovereignty
The power to make decisions freely and independently.
tariff
Tax on imported goods
power
The influence or strength used to control someone or something
elite
A group of people who have a lot of power and influence because they have money, knowledge, or special skills
