Purposes of Government Vocab

Government

Political organizations through which scarcity decisions and public policies are made and enforced.

Democracy

Type of government where power is held by the people and exercised through them (voting).

Rebuplic

Where people are elected by the citizens to speak or act on their behalf.

Scarcity

Trying to fulfil unlimited wants and needs with limited resources.

Politics

The way in which people resolve social conflict.

Social Conflict

The idea that people in a society disagree over beliefs, values, and what the society’s priorities should be.

Power

The ability to do something

Authority

The right to make decisions. Having power or influence over people or groups.

Nation

People united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.

Sovereignty

The power and authority to rule oneself; governments must have this.

Population

Group of people living within an area.

Territory

Land on which population lives.

Social Contract

An implicit (understood) agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits.