Foundations of Government Flashcards
Functions of Government
- Maintain order
- Provide services
- Resolve conflict
- Promote values
The basic question or problem involving governments is
Power
These can be used interchangeably
Democracy and Republic
Monarch
Head of state is a hereditary position such as a king or queen
Constitutional monarchy
Has a monarch without true power acting as a ceremonial head of state
Republic (democracy)
People are the source of authority. Government is made up of elected representatives. Most decisions are made by majority rule and citizens partake in the lawmaking process
Dictatorship
Political and military power, wealth, and social position are the source of leaders authority
Most have used the military as their source of power
Totalitarian government
Government that tightly controls all aspects of life including political social and economic
Theocracy
Government under the rule of a small group of religious leaders
Unitary system
Central government holds all legal power. Local government carries all decisions of central government
Federal system
National, state, and local levels share power. Policies are made by representatives. Power is divided equally among all states. A citizen must obey local ordinances as well as state and federal laws.
Confederal system
Independent states join together. Loose union with real power belong to the states.
Presidential system
An elected president heads the executive branch which is independent of other branches. Each branch checks the power of other branches
Parliamentary system
A prime minister or a premier is appointed by the legislative branch which can also remove the official
Policy
Any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular goal
State
Political unit with the power to make enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory
Sovereignty
Supreme power to act within its territory and to control its external affairs
Politics
Process by which government makes and carries out decisions
Legitimacy
Right and proper
Authority to rule
Divine right of kings
Theory that a monarch rules by the sanction, or approval, of God
Oligarchy
Ruled by a few small groups of people, usually members of the military or the economic elite
Ideal
Conception of something in its most perfect form
Liberty
Ability of people to act and think as they choose, so long as their choices do not harm the liberty or well-being of others
Equality
Principle that all people possess a fundamental moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment under the law and equal opportunity in aspects of life
Self-government
Belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and to do so as political equals
Majority rule
Basic principle of democracy that decisions are made by a majority, by getting more than half of the votes cast
Minority rights
Political rights held by groups who make up less than half of the population
Liberal democracy
Form of democracy where individual rights and liberties of all people, including those in the minority, are protected
Government
An institution with the power to make and enforce rules for a people
