history vocab

Question 1

authoritarian government

Answer 1

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limit but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions

Question 2

citizenship

Answer 2

informed and active membership in a political community

Question 3

constitutional government

Answer 3

a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

Question 4

democracy

Answer 4

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials

Question 5

direct democracy

Answer 5

a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and polices

Question 6

equality of opportunity

Answer 6

a widely shared american ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

Question 7

government

Answer 7

institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled

Question 8

laissez faire captialism

Answer 8

an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no governement interference

Question 9

liberty

Answer 9

freedom from governement control

Question 10

limited government

Answer 10

a principle of constitutional government, a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

Question 11

majority rule/ miniorty rights

Answer 11

the demorcratic principal that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the intrests of the minority

Question 12

political efficacy

Answer 12

the abilty to influence government and poltics

Question 13

political equality

Answer 13

the right to particpate in politics equally. based on the principal of “one person, one vote”

Question 14

political knowledge

Answer 14

possessing infromation about the fromal instituions of government, political actors, and political issues

Question 15

politics

Answer 15

conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments

Question 16

popular sovereignty

Answer 16

a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people

Question 17

power

Answer 17

influence over government’s leadership, organization, or policies

Question 18

reprsentative democracy

Answer 18

a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a signifcant role in governmental decision making

Question 19

totalitarian government

Answer 19

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it.

Question 20

sepration of powers

Answer 20

the diision of govenmental poweramong several instutuions that must cooperate in decion making

Question 21

three fifths compromise

Answer 21

the agreement reached at the consitutional convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats only three-ffths of slaves would be counted

Question 22

tyranny

Answer 22

oppressive and unjust government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority

Question 23

virginia plan

Answer 23

a framework for the constitution, introduced by edmund randoplh, that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state