Political Concepts/Definitions Flashcards
Autocracy/Autocrat
A form of government in which one person has absolute power.
A ruler with absolute power
Authoritarianism
A form of government in which the rulers have unlimited power and do not allow people to participate in decision-making.
Autonomy
The right or condition of self-government.
Bipartisan
Involving members of two political parties, especially in a cooperative effort.
Bill
A proposed law that is under consideration by a legislative body.
Bolshevism
Bureaucracy
A system of government in which many officials and organizations exercise power.
Campaign
A series of activities undertaken to win an election or promote a cause.
Capital punishment
The punishment of death for a crime.
Capitalism
An economic and political system based on private ownership of the production and the creation of goods and services for profit.
Caucus
A meeting of party members to select delegates to a party convention or to decide on a party platform.
Centralization
The concentration of power or decision-making in a central authority or location.
Civil disobedience
The refusal to obey laws or comply with authority as a peaceful protest.
Civil society
The network of organizations, institutions, and individuals outside the government that promotes the public good.
Coalition
A temporary alliance of political parties or interest groups for a specific purpose.
Democracy
A form of government in which the people can choose their leaders and decide the country’s direction.
Dictatorship
A form of government in that one person has absolute power.
Direct democracy
A form of democracy in which the people directly participate in decision-making, typically through voting on specific issues.
Discrimination
The unequal treatment of individuals or groups based on race, gender, religion, or other characteristics.
Democratic socialism
political philosophy that combines elements of socialism and democracy with a focus on worker ownership and control of the means of production.
Dual federalism
A system of government in which power is divided between the national and state governments.
Electorate
The group of people eligible to vote in an election.
Embargo
A ban on trade with a specific country or group of countries.
Enlightenment
A movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights.
Fascism
A political ideology characterized by authoritarianism, nationalism, and a belief in the superiority of one race or nation.
Federalism
A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional governments.
Feudalism
A system of government in which the nobility held land from the king in exchange for military service and protection of the peasants.
Free market
An economic system in which the forces of supply and demand determine the prices of goods and services without government intervention.
