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Unit 1: Foundations of Government

Terms in this set (19)

Legislative power
Power to make laws
Executive power
Power to execute and enforce laws
Judicial power
Power to interpret laws and settle disputes
Dictatorship
Government that does not have to answer to the people
Democracy
Government ruled by the people
Direct Democracy
Citizens gather in mass meetings to form legislation
Representative Democracy
Representatives elected by the people
Autocracy
Government in which a single person holds absolute power
Oligarchy
System in which government decisions are influenced by a small, elite group
Unitary government
All powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency
Federal Government
Powers are divided between central government and several local governments
Confederate Government
An alliance of independent states
Presidential Government
Has a separation of powers between executive and legislative branches
Parliamentary Government
Executive and legislative branches are combined.
President
Usually the chief executive of a presidential government
Prime Minister
Usually the chief executive of a parliamentary government
Sovereignty
A country's independent authority and right of self-control within its own borders
Liberalism
Philosophy that protecting liberty and freedom is the government's primary responsibility
Popular Consent
Authority to lead given by citizens through elections
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...