principles of government

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies.

Public Policies

What a government decides to do, including taxation.

Legislative Power

The power to make laws and frame public policies; exercised by Congress.

Executive Power

The power to execute and enforce laws.

Judicial Power

The power to interpret laws and determine their meaning.

Constitution

The body of fundamental laws setting out principles and structures of government.

Dictatorship

A form of government where those who rule are not held responsible to the will of the people.

Democracy

A form of government where supreme authority rests with the people.

State

A body of people living in a defined territory, organized politically and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of higher authority.

Sovereignty

Supreme and absolute power within its own territory; the ability to decide its own foreign and domestic policies.

Force Theory

An explanation for the origin of the state where an individual or group claimed control over a territory and forced the population to submit.

Divine Right of Kings Theory

An explanation stating that God created the state and chose certain people to rule.

Evolutionary Theory

An explanation where a population formed from primitive families whose heads became the government.

Social Contract Theory

An explanation where a population gave up power to a government to promote the well-being of all, creating a sovereign state.

Justice

The principle that law must be reasonable and fair.

Representative Democracy

A form of democracy where people choose representatives to exercise political power on their behalf.

Federal Government

A system where power is divided between a central national government and state governments.

Unitary Government

A system where a single central agency holds all governmental power.

Theocracy

A government where religious law is the basis of the state.

Autocracy

A government where a single person holds unlimited political power.

Parliamentary System

A system where the prime minister is the leader chosen by Parliament's majority.

Presidential System

A system with separation of powers between legislative and executive branches.

Separation of Powers

A system that divides government into separate branches to prevent conflict and provide checks and balances.