Government Chapter 1 Flashcards

Vocabulary study flashcards covering key terms, concepts, theories, and definitions from Chapter 1 Government.

Maintain order

A function of government to create and enforce laws so society can function safely.

Provide public services

A function of government to provide services that benefit the community and may be difficult for individuals to provide alone.

Provide national security

A function of government to protect the country from foreign threats and defend its people and territory.

Provide economic security and assistance

A function of government to help maintain a stable economy and assist people during certain economic hardships.

Protect individual rights

A function of government to protect freedoms and legal rights from government abuse and from violations by others.

Make and enforce public policy

A function of government to decide how society's problems should be addressed through laws, programs, and regulations.

Preamble

The introductory part of the U.S. Constitution that states the six goals of the U.S. government.

Popular sovereignty

A principle of democracy stating that the people are the ultimate source of government power.

Rule of law

A principle of democracy stating that everyone, including government officials, must obey the law.

Separation of powers

The division of government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and balances

The system where each branch of government has powers that can limit the other branches.

Individual rights / limited government

The principle that government power is restricted so individual freedoms are protected.

Written constitution

A document providing a clear framework for government that defines and limits powers, protects individual rights, establishes structure, and provides rules to settle disputes.

Legislative power

The power of government to make laws.

Executive power

The power of government to enforce and carry out laws.

Judicial power

The power of government to interpret laws and decide legal disputes.

Public policy

A government decision or plan for addressing a public issue through laws, regulations, programs, or government actions.

State

A political unit that possesses population, territory, government, and sovereignty.

Nation

A group of people who share a common identity, culture, history, language, or other ties.

Country

A common everyday term for a sovereign political state, often used interchangeably with state in international affairs.

Population

A required characteristic of a state specifying that it must have people living in it.

Territory

A required characteristic of a state specifying that it must control a defined geographic area.

Sovereignty

The supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself and make decisions without being controlled by another state.

Legitimacy

The belief that a government has the right and authority to govern.

Unitary system

A government system in which most political power is concentrated in the national/central government.

Confederate system

A government system where independent states or regions give limited powers to a weak central government.

Federal system

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

John Locke

An Enlightenment thinker who argued that people have natural rights (life, liberty, property), government rests on consent, and citizens can change a government that violates rights.

Thomas Hobbes

An Enlightenment thinker who believed that without government people live in disorder, so they agree to give strong authority to government in exchange for peace and protection.

Montesquieu

An Enlightenment thinker who proposed the separation of powers and dividing government power.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

An Enlightenment thinker who advocated for popular sovereignty and the belief that legitimate government rests on the will of the people.

Dictatorship

A government in which one ruler or a small group holds extensive power, often without meaningful popular control.

Democracy

A government in which political power ultimately comes from the people.

Monarchy

A government headed by a monarch, such as a king or queen, whose power may be constitutional or concentrated.

Oligarchy

A government controlled by a small group of people.

Autocracy

A government in which one person holds primary political power.

Direct democracy

A democracy where citizens participate directly in making government decisions, such as voting on laws themselves.

Indirect / representative democracy

A democracy where citizens elect representatives who make government decisions and laws on their behalf.

Parliamentary government

A form of government where the executive leader is usually chosen by the legislature and is typically responsible to that legislature.

Presidential government

A form of government where the president is separately elected from the legislature and serves as the head of the executive branch.

Evolutionary theory

The theory that states developed gradually as families and small communities grew into larger, organized societies.

Force theory

The theory that states were created when one person or group conquered and forced control over others.

Divine right theory

The theory that government authority comes from God, and rulers were chosen by divine will.

Social contract theory

The theory that people agreed to create government to provide order, protection, and/or protect rights.

Free enterprise economic system

An economic system in which individuals and businesses generally make economic decisions with limited direct government control, while government protects rights, enforces contracts, and maintains competition.