Vocabulary 1 Flashcards
the system established by a society to facilitate order
government
informal process whereby a society gives up certain rights in order to be governed
social contract
first written agreement (social contract) among early colonists in North America —1600’s
Mayflower Compact
the idea that moral and/or political obligations of a citizen are dependent on a ‘contract’ with a sovereign
social contract theory
a person who believed that power must be “representative” and based on the consent of the people.
Thomas Hobbes
a person who believed every human had natural rights that could not be taken away from them.
John Locke
a biblical reference to a whale, and argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign
Leviathan
John Locke discusses men’s move from a state of nature characterized by perfect freedom and governed by reason to a civil government in which the authority is vested in legislative and executive power.
Two Treatises of Government
a person who is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers.
Montesquieu
Montesquieu argued that political institutions needed, for their success, to reflect the social and geographical aspects of the particular community.
Spirit of the Laws
a person who is a philosopher, writer and composer from Geneva. He wrote The Social Contract.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
a democratic form where eligible voters vote directly to decide on policy issues
direct democracy
a democratic form where eligible voters cast a ballot to typically select a representative who acts on their behalf regarding various policy issues
indirect democracy
a form of government with elected officials BUT not necessarily democratic nor equal as eligible voters may belong to an exclusive class
republic
oldest form of government where the power of government rests in the hands of one individual and where succession is typically determined by heredity
monarchy
one leader takes full control of the government and its citizens
totalitarian
a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people
oligarchy
system of government that allows all eligible voters to participate in policy making
democracy
when all participating members of society share the same personal liberties
political equality
idea that the will of that greater number of citizens determined policy
majority rule
power of the government is ultimately held by its citizens
popular sovereignity
is a philosophy asserting that certain rights are inherent by virtue of human nature, endowed by nature— traditionally by God or a transcendent source – and that these can be understood universally through the human reason
natural law
opening paragraph of the constitution that spells the basic set of purposes for its creation
preamble to the constitution of the united states
set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths, or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explains how society should work, and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.
political ideology
