Government Types and Systems Study Guide

Flashcards covering various government structures, the features of democracy, distribution of power, and components of the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning model.

Theocracy

A government where religious leaders rule in the name of a god or a higher power.

Single party state

A government where only one political party is legally allowed to exist.

Totalfariamant

An autocracy or oligarchy in which the government has complete and total control over every aspect of a person's public and private life.

Democracy

A type of government where the people hold the power and can influence government decisions through voting and participation.

Direct democracy

A system where all citizens vote directly on every law and public policy.

Representative democracy

A system where citizens elect a group of people to make laws and public policies on their behalf.

Parlamentary democract

A government where the executive leader, called a prime minister, is chosen from the leading party in the legislature and can be removed by that legislature.

Presidential demanar

A government where the president is elected separately from the law-making body and leads the executive branch, while both branches have their own powers.

Constitutional monarchy

A government in which a monarch, such as a king or queen, shares power with a constitutionally organized government and typically has limited authority.

United government

Powers exercised by the government are restricted, usually by a written constitution.

Rule of law

Government is based on clear and fairly enforced laws; these laws apply to everyone.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the people are the ultimate source of authority and legitimacy of a government.

Constitution

A written plan that sets up a government, outlines its powers, and lists the rights of the people.

Separation of powers

Powers of a government are split between two or more independent branches to prevent any one person or group from gaining too much power.

Checks and balances

Each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches.

Enderalaster

Power is shared between a strong central (national) government and strong state or regional governments.

Unitary system

All the power is held by one central government. Local governments exist but only have the power the central government gives them.

Confederal system

Most of the power is held by the individual states or regional governments, and the central government is very weak.

Claim

An argument or assertion (the main point you are arguing).

Evidence

Facts, information, or data that support your claim.

Reasoning

A justification that explains WHY your evidence proves your claim to be true.