US Government Flashcards
Divine right of kings
That god created the state and that god had given those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule
John Locke
Policial theory philosopher
Social contract
The population gave power to the government as needed to promote the well-being of all
What government does (6 things)
Form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty
Direct democracy
Where the will of the people is translated into public policy directly by the people themselves, in mass meetings
Indirect democracy
With a constitutional republic or representative democracy
Republic
The sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, while the political power is exercised by representatives chosen by and held responsible to those citizens
Republic
The sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, while the political power is exercised by representatives chosen by and held responsible to those citizens
Autocracy
A government in which a single person holds unlimited political power
Oligarchy
A government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite
Modern dictatorship
A government in which their power embraces all matters of human concern
Theocracy
Where the legal system of a state is based on religious law
Unitary government
Often described as a centralized government. All powers belong to a single central agency. It creates local governments with chosen powers
Federal government
In which the power of the government are divided between a central government and several local governments
Division of powers
An authority superior to both the central and local governments makes this division of powers
Confederation
An alliance of independent states
Presidential government
Features a separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches of the government
Written constitution
The details of this separation of the powers of these two branches
Parliamentary government
The executive branch is made up of the prime minister or premier and that official’s cabinet
Parliamentary system
Avoids prolonged conflict and sometimes deadlock between the executive and legislative branches
Feudalism
A loosely organized system in which powerful lords divided their lands among other, lesser lords
Legitimacy
The belief of the people that a government has the right to make public policy
Divine right of kings 2
The belief that god had granted monarchs authority
Colonialism
The control of one nation over lands abroad
Mercantilism
Economic and political theory emphasizing money as the chief source of wealth to increase the absolute power of the monarchy and the nation
Francois-Marie Arouet
Advocated reason, freedom of religion, the importance of scientific observation, and the idea of human progress
William blackstone
Believed strongly in “common law” - the idea that legal decisions should be made on the basis of similar decisions made in the past
Majority rule
Democracy holds that a majority will be right more often than it will be wrong, and that the majority will also be right more often than any one person or small group will
Minority rights
The majority must always be willing to listen to a minority’s argument, to hear its objections, to bear its criticisms, and to welcome its suggestions
Concept of equality
Every person is entitled to
- Equality of opportunity
And
- Equality before the law
Compromise
The process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests
Duties of a “good citizen”
Revolve around his or her commitment to obey the law
Citizen
One who holds both rights and responsibilities in a state
Personal responsibility
Encompass taking care of yourself
Civic responsibility
Your role as a citizen of a larger community
Free enterprise system
An economic system characterized by the private ownership of capital goods; investments made by private decision, not by government directive; and success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace
Object of the government
To protect the public and to preserve private enterprise
