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Foundations of Government

Terms in this set (50)

consent of the governed
agreement made by the people to establish a government and abide by its laws
Enlightenment
a period in European history when many educated people stressed the importance of learning and reasoning; education was considered the key to understanding and solving society's problems
individual liberty
a person's ability to be free and independent
influence
having an effect or impact on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others
natural law
laws passed by government to protect natural rights
natural rights
the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments; life, liberty, and property
separation of powers
the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities
social contract
an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government
compact
an official agreement made by two or more parties
Common Sense
a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England
English Bill of Rights
a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king; written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689
due process
the idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws, and that government leaders and officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and treat all people in the same way
limited government
a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement
limited monarchy
a system of government in which the king or queen shares authority with an elected legislature and agrees to be bound by a constitution or a set of laws, also known as a constitutional monarchy
Magna Carta
a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215
Mayflower Compact
an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620
rights
a set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
rule of law
a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law
self government
popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Thomas Paine
the colonial journalist who wrote Common Sense in 1776
duty
a tax
export
goods sent to another country
goods
merchandise or objects for sale or trade
import
goods brought into the country
legislature
governing body responsible for making laws
levy
to collect by legal authority
oppression
the use of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner
Parliament
the name of the English legislature
representation
a person or group acting on behalf of another person or group
tax
money levied by a government for specific facilities or services
taxation without representation
the idea that it is unfair to tax someone without giving them a voice in government
individual rights
rights guaranteed or belonging to a person
abolish
to end
assent
to agree
deprive
to take something away
derive
to take
despotism
a system of government where the ruler has unlimited power
dissolve
to bring to an end
endow
to be given something naturally
grievance
a complaint
impel
to urge
impose
to establish by using authority or power
institute
to establish
oppression
the use of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner
quarter
to house
rectitude
the quality or state of being correct
self-evident
obvious, having no need of proof
tyranny
a government in which a single ruler possesses and abuses absolute power
unalienable rights
basic rights of the people that may not be taken away
usurpation
the act of exercising power by force
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