Quiz 1 Flashcards
Power
Ability to control or influence other people
Authority
Reasoning or justification of being in charge
Constitution
Document which establishes law, rules, structure of government, obligations to and of the people, separations of power, and authority
Social Contract
Agreement between the people and the government where the people give up some rights for protection
Oligarchy
Government by a group of small people
Bureaucracy
Government split into departments
Citizen
One with a stake in the society
Sovereign
A person, group, or state which is given independent authority
State of Nature
Fictional scenario where there is no government and no rules, resulting in chaos
Social norm
Unwritten “rule”
Thomas Hobbes
Political philosopher who thought the state of nature would be a constant state of war because everyone is self-interested
John Locke
Political philosopher who believed in natural rights (Life, liberty, property), especially property and that the state of nature would have constant stealings of property
Natural Rights
Rights believed to be given from G-d, includes life, liberty, and property, the basis for most laws
Due process
Rule that government must follow laws
Bill of Rights
First 10 Amendments of the Constitution which establish basic rights of US citizens including free speech, religious freedom, free press, right to bear arms, right to a speedy trial, etc.
Prior Restraint
Censorship to press before publication
Federalism
The idea of a group of states with individual power and a shared national government with a separation of powers into the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, where the state governments cannot supersede the national government
Democracy
Government where the people have the power
Direct democracy
Democracy where all issues are voted on by citizens, very inefficient and rare
Representative democracy
Democracy in which the people elect leaders and representatives to make decisions
