Government and Constitutional Principles Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes concerning government structures, legal principles, and foundational values.

Constitution

The system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature, functions, and limits of a government or another institution.

Constitutional Republic

A commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of sovereign power is written in a constitution and is lodged in representatives elected by the people.

Democracy

A form of government, in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the people collectively, or in which the people exercise the powers of legislation.

Democratic Principles

The general belief in principles that relate to the governance of a country based on Democratic representation and ideas.

Ethical

Being in accordance with the accepted principles of right and wrong that govern the conduct of a profession.

Individual Worth

According to Judeo-Christian principles, every person has value and inheritably embodies dignity.

Judeo-Christian

Relating to or having historical roots from both the Jewish and Christian religions.

Justice

The attainment of what is just, especially that which is fair, moral, right, merited, or in accordance with law.

Polis

A city-state of ancient Greece.

Representative Government

Based on, or constituting a government in which the many are represented by persons chosen from among them usually by election.

Republic

A commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people. In modern usage, it differs from a democracy or democratic state, in which the people exercise the powers of sovereignty in person.

Rule of Law

Government and all citizens abide by the same laws.

Separation of Powers

The constitutional allocation of the legislative, executive, and judicial powers among the three branches of government.