Section 1: Complete Vocabulary & Key Terms

Federal Government

A system of government where power is divided and shared between a central (national) government and smaller regional governments (such as states or countries).

Federalism

The system of government where power is divided and shared between a central national government and local/state regional governments.

Republic

A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, led by an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Government

An institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws for a society.

Function of Government

The specific responsibilities, roles, and activities that a government performs to manage and administer a state or community.

Anarchy

A state of society without government or laws; characterized by disorder and mob rule through might and violence.

Sovereignty

The supreme and absolute authority of a government within its territorial boundaries to make and enforce its own laws without approval or control from any other authority.

State (Political Science)

A political community occupying a definite territory with an organized government and sovereignty (equivalent to an independent country).

Nation

A sizeable group of people united by common bonds such as race, language, custom, tradition, or religion, who may or may not have their own state.

Social Contract

An agreement within a society to cooperate for social benefits, where individuals surrender some freedom to a government in exchange for order, security, and the protection of their natural rights.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights that all human beings possess by nature, identified by John Locke as life, liberty, and property.

Divine Right Theory

The belief that a monarch's authority comes directly from God, making defiance against the ruler a sin against God.

Enlightenment

A 17th–18th century intellectual movement that challenged divine right, emphasizing reason, individual liberty, and government by social contract.

Limited Government

The principle that government power is restricted by law and constitutional checks, rather than being absolute.

Representative Government

A system where citizens elect delegates to make laws and conduct government business on their behalf.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent any single group from gaining absolute control.

Constitution

A written plan and framework of fundamental laws, principles, and structures that establish and limit a government.

Common Law

A legal system based on customs, traditions, and past court rulings (precedents) rather than written statutes alone.

Levy

To impose or collect a tax, fee, or fine.

Parliament

A British legislative body composed of two houses: the House of Lords (upper house) and the House of Commons (lower house).

American Revolution

A conflict (1775–1783) in which the American colonies fought for and won independence from British rule, leading to the establishment of the United States.