Government test 1 Flashcards
all of the things the government decides to do
Public policies
the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
constitution
a body of people living in a defined territory, organized politically with the power to make and enforce laws
state
the land, with known recognized boundaries
territory
form of government where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people
dictatorship
the institution through which society makes and enforces its public policy
government
a state’s supreme and absolute power within its own territory
sovereighnty
the number of people in a particular state or other area
population
a form of government in which the legal system is based on religious law and usually has a religious leader to head the state
theocracy
a form of government in which a single person holds unlimited power
autocracy
a form of government in which the power to rule is held by a small elitist group (usually self-appointed)
oligarchy
the belief of the poeple that a government has the right to make public policy
legitimacy
a loosely organized system in which powerful lords divided their land among other lesser lords in return for loyalty and soldiers
feulalism
an economic and political theory emphasizing money as the chief source of wealth to increase the power of the nation
mercantilism
the control one nation had over foreign lands
colonialism
an economic system characterized by private ownership, individual making, and free market
free enterprise
three basic powers every government holds
judicial, executive, and legislative powers
what are the four defining characteristics of a state?
population, sovereignty, government, territory
four theories that attempt to explain the origin of the state
Force- man or people took control by force
evolutionary- family started developed from there
divine right of kings- god given right to rule
social contract- citizens voluntarily gave power
purposes of government in the U.S. and other countries
provide common defense, general welfare, establish Justice, and insure domestic tranquility
government systems based on “who can Participate”
democracy and dictorship
government systems based on “Geographic Distribution of Power”
unitary, Federal, confederate
governments based on the relationships between the legislative and the executive
parliamentary, and presidental
adolf hitler is referred to as a dictator. under what circumstances would it be accurate to call him an autocrat?
Those in power hold absolute and unchallenged authority over the people
what words are commonly used to describe present day dictatorships?
authoritarian, and totalitarian, militaristic
why do discussions of the origin of democratic government often look back at Greece and Rome?
athens is the birthplace of democracy, Rome is the one who spread democracy
explain how governments gain legitimacy
personality, follow rule of law, tradition
why did many European countries turn to colonialism?
the trade and money brought them power more than land did
five basic concepts of our Democracy
individual worth, equality of people, majority rule-minority rights. necessity of compromise, and insistence upon individual Freedom
difference between a duty and responsibility?
duty- have to do it
responsibility- should do it
how does the economic system reflect the respect for the individual that is key to our political system?
individual freedom, can make there own decisions, individual freedom to make action
