government chapter 1 terms 1

anarchy

a state without government and laws

government

an institution through which leaders excercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the people under its control

Nation

a group of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes religion

state

a political community that occupies a definite territory and has organized government

country

a political community that occupies a denote territory and has organized government. same Maeaning

sovereignty

the supreme and absolute authority within territorial boundaries

philosopher

speculation based on study

divine right

the idea that people are chosen by a god or gods to rule

social contract

theory that by contract people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens

evolutionary theory

Scientific explanation for life's diversity, asserting species evolve through natural selection, making advantageous traits more prevalent over generations.

Force Theory

The concept that governments arise from the use of force, where a person or group imposes their will on others, establishing authority and control.

divine right

The belief that monarchs are chosen by God to rule, justifying their authority as sacred and absolute.

unitary system

a government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

confederacy

a loose union of independent states

federal system

a government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments

constitution

a plan that provides the rules for government

constitutional government

a government in which a constitution has authority to pace clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern

authoritarian

controlling al aspect of citizens economic, political, and social lives

totalitarian

a system of government in which the government has total control

assembly

a gathering

dictatorship

a system of government in which the power is in the hands of one person who has total control