Government Flashcards
Anarchy
A society without a governing body
Aristocracy
A government in which a small, elite ruling class holds the power
Colonialism
The practice of one country taking full or partial political control over another place
Communism
A government and economic system where land, factories, and machinery, are owned by the community
Democracy
A government system in which power is held by the whole population or all eligible members of a state
Dictatorship
A government system in which one person makes all the rules without input from anyone else
Military dictatorship
The military exerts complete or substantial control over political authority
Monarchy
A government in which a monarch is head of state
Oligarchy
A small group of people have most or all political power
Republic
Supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives
Socialism
Political or economic system where property and resources are owned in common by the state
Theocracy
Based on divine guidance or by officials who are considered divinely guided (clergy)
Totalitarianism
A government that allows no individual freedom and seeks to use the authority of the government to control all aspects of an individual’s life
Functions of government
Governments make laws, rules, and regulations, collect taxes, print money, and regulate foreign commerce.
Legal systems
Systems of justice that list the acts or activities that are against the law and describe the punishments for breaking those laws
