Government and Civil Systems Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary terms based on lecture notes covering government types, the U.S. Constitution, branches of government, and election processes.

Aristocracy

A form of government where rich people rule.

Theocracy

A form of government where God rules.

Anarchy

A state where no one rules.

Authoritarian rule

A system of government characterized by dictatorship.

Magna Carta

A very old ($1215$) document establishing the notion of limited royal power and the protection of certain rights of citizens.

Habeas corpus

A very old legal rule that makes it difficult for the government to keep a person in jail without a trial.

Parliament

The legislative branch of government in countries like England; in the USA, this body is called Congress.

Parliamentary democracy

A system where the prime minister is chosen by the party with the most votes rather than directly by the people, and the legislative and executive branches are not separate.

Bill of Rights

The first $10$ amendments to the Constitution which guarantee individual rights such as free speech and religion (A$1$) and freedom from search and seizure (A$4$).

Republic

A country where the people are in charge rather than a king; derived from the roots 'res' (thing) and 'public' (people).

Dictatorship

A system where one person decides everything and gives all the orders.

Preamble

The first part of the U.S. Constitution which states the reasons for making the document.

Articles

The main body of the Constitution.

Amendments

Additions to the U.S. Constitution, which currently has a total of $27$.

Declaration of Independence

A document signed in $1776$, about $10$ years older than the Constitution, which started the American Revolution.

Population comparison (Revolutionary era)

During the American Revolution, America had $2.5$ million people while England had $8$ million people.

Ratification

The final agreement to a document or law.

Federal

Refers to the national level of government.

Federalism

A two-level system of government.

Executive branch

The branch of government that implements or executes the law; it includes all departments and secretaries (referred to as ministers and ministries in other countries).

Legislative branch

The branch of government responsible for making the laws.

Senate

A part of Congress consisting of $100$ total U.S. Senators, with $2$ per state.

House of Representatives

A part of Congress with around $430$ members; state representation varies, such as California having $52$ and Alaska having $1$.

Judicial branch

The branch of government that interprets the law.

Unconstitutional

A term for something that is illegal because it goes against the Constitution; usually decided by the Supreme Court.

Veto

The power of a president to reject a law made by Congress, although Congress can also reject that rejection.

Checks and balances

A system where each branch of government controls and is controlled by the other branches.

Impartial

A state of being fair and not biased; not based on party affiliation.

Political parties

Organizations such as the Democrats and Republicans, which have been the largest two for $170$ years.

Platforms

The specific positions or policies held by a political party.

Primary (election)

The first step in an election where parties decide who their candidate will be before the citizens choose between the R and the D.

Nomination

The act of naming someone for a specific role.

Convention

A large event or gathering used by political parties to decide their candidates and platforms for each election.

Electoral College

A voting system where everyone in a state votes the same way, potentially allowing a candidate to become president with less than $50\%$ of the total vote.

Independent (voters)

Voters who do not identify as either Republican (R) or Democrat (D).

Opinion polls

Surveys or questions designed to find out how people will vote.

Debates

An organized argument between two political candidates.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An entity involved with money in politics that can be used to influence votes.

Citizenship

Membership in a nation that involves specific rights and responsibilities.

Immigration

The rules and institutions (such as judges and offices) that nations use to control, encourage, or discourage the movement of populations.

Naturalization

The process of becoming a citizen.