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Unit 1: (Chpts 1-3) Foundations of Government

Terms in this set (48)

Democracy
Government for and by the people; government based on individual rights and freedoms.
Free enterprise system
economic system that promotes private ownership, individual freedom, and competition. Government has limited regulatory role.
a state
a body of people living in a defined territory who have a government with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority
John Locke
Thinker who developed ideas for limited government and natural rights
Unitary government
Power is in a single central agency; the central government creates local units of government
Federal Government
a government where power is shared between a central government and several state or local governments.
autocracy
a system of government by one person with absolute power.
Oligarchy
a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.
Theocracy
a government ruled by religious leaders and based on religious law
Presidential Government
separation of powers between the executive and the legislature
Parliamentary Government
the government is made up of members of the legislative branch
Divine right theory
The divine right of kings theory holds that the power of government derives from a divinity
Social Contract Theory
the social contract theory holds that the power of government is acquired from the people.
seperation of powers
basic principle of American system of government that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government.
sovereignty
Supreme power or authority within a given area.
confederation
An alliance of independent states; league of friendship
executive power
The power to carry out and enforce laws
judicial power
The power to interpret laws
legislative power
The power to make laws
government
the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
representative democracy
Citizens choose people to represent their interests in government; representatives make laws and policy for the citizens.
public policy
all the things a government decides to do
dictatorship
all powers are held by a single person
limited government
Consent of the governed. Government's powers are written in the Constitution.
Popular Sovereignty
The supreme power of the government belongs to the people.
judicial review
Judicial branch can declare a law or executive action unconstitutional
Checks and Balances
Each branch of government checks another to make sure one branch doesn't gain too much power; president appoints federal judges, senate must confirm
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments to the Constitution added to appease the anti-federalists
Majority rule
in a democracy, the majority of the people will be right more often than they will be wrong, and will be right more often than will any one person or small group.
Delegated powers
Those powers expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the Constitution.
Division of powers
basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis
formal amendment process
Amendment proposed by 2/3 of congress and ratified by 3/4 of states
bicameral
An adjective describing a legislative body composed of two chambers.
expressed powers
Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, in the Constitution. Also called enumerated powers.
implied powers
powers given to the national government that are not written but based on expressed powers
inherent powers
powers given to the national government because it is a sovereign power
reserved powers
powers reserved to the states "police powers"
supremacy clause
a provision of the US Constitution that states that the Constitution, federal law, and treaties of the United States are the "supreme law of the land"
concurrent powers
powers given to both the national government and the states; the power to tax
citizen
a member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to it by birth `or naturalization and is entitled to full civil rights.
what amendment defines citizenship?
14th
what amendment grant all men the right to vote?
15th
what amendent granted women the right to vote?
19th
how do conservatives and liberals view the role of government differently?
...
how many electoral college favor smaller states?
smaller population states have a say in the voting proxess
what is lobbying?
seek to influence
what is yellow journalism?
scandals and patriotism
what war led to the passage of the 26th amendment?
Vietnam war
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