Government Vocab

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

Public Policies

All of the many goals a government pursues in the many areas of human affairs in which it is involved.

Legislative Power

The power to make law and to frame public policies.

Executive Power

The power to execute, enforce, and administer law.

Judicial Power

Power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and settle disputes within society.

Dictatorship

A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Democracy

Government form in which the supreme authority rests with the people.

State

A body of people living in a defined territory who have a government with the power to make/enforce law without higher authority.

Sovereign

Having supreme power within one's territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority.

Autocracy

Government form where a single person holds unlimited political power.

Oligarchy

Government form where power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite.

Unitary Government

Ultimate governing authority is concentrated in a single central national government.

Federal Government

Powers are divided between a central government and several local governments.

Division of Powers

The constitutional provision by which government powers are divided on a geographic basis.

Confederation

A joining of several groups for a common purpose.

Presidential Government

Executive and legislative branches are separate, independent, and coequal.

Parliamentary Government

Executive branch is made up of the prime minister (premier) and that official's cabinet.

Free Enterprise System

Private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investment determined by private decisions rather than state control.

Limited Government

Government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that cannot be taken away.

Representative Government

Public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections.

Magna Carta

1215 document establishing that the power of the monarchy was not absolute and guaranteeing trial by jury and due process to nobility.

English Bill of Rights

1689 document designed to prevent abuse of power by the English monarchy.

Charter

A city's basic law; its constitution; a written grant of authority from the king.

Bicameral

A legislative body composed of two chambers.

Proprietary

Organized by a proprietor.

Unicameral

A legislative body with one chamber.

Delegate

Representatives/members of Congress who cast votes based on constituents' wishes.

Popular Sovereignty

Asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power.

Articles of Confederation

Established a "firm league of friendship" among the states after the American Revolution.

Ratification

Formal approval; final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, amendment, or treaty.

Framers

Delegates who drafted the U.S. Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention.

Constitution

Body of fundamental laws setting the principles, structures, and processes of a government.

Virginia Plan

Called for a three-branch government and bicameral legislature in which each state's representation would be determined by population.

New Jersey Plan

Alternative to the Virginia Plan; called for a unicameral legislature with equal state representation.

Connecticut Compromise

Agreement that Congress should consist of an equally represented Senate and a population-based House.

Federalists

People supporting ratification of the Constitution (1787–88).

Anti-Federalists

People opposing ratification of the Constitution (1787–88).

Quorum

Least number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business.

Veto

Chief executive power to reject a legislative bill.

Rule of Law

Concept that government and its officers are always subject to the law.

Separation of Powers

Basic principle of the American governmental system in which executive, legislative, and judicial branches are separately divided.

Checks and Balances

Overlapping powers system allowing each branch to limit the actions of the others.

Judicial Review

Power of a court to determine the constitutionality of governmental actions.

Federalism

Governmental system in which a written constitution divides power between central and regional governments.

Amendment

A change or addition to a constitution or law.

Formal Amendment

Change becoming part of the written language of the Constitution itself.

Delegated Powers

Powers expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the national government by the Constitution.

Expressed Powers

Delegated powers specifically spelled out in the Constitution; also called enumerated powers.

Implied Powers

Delegated powers suggested by the expressed powers; those that are "necessary and proper."

Inherent Powers

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the national government because it governs a sovereign state.

Reserved Powers

Powers that the Constitution does not grant to the national government and does not deny to the states.

Exclusive Powers

Powers that can be exercised by the national government alone.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that both the national government and the states possess and exercise.

Supremacy Clause

Provision of the U.S. Constitution stating that the Constitution, federal laws, and U.S. treaties are the “supreme law of the land.”

Enabling Act

Congressional act directing the people of a U.S. territory to organize a state constitution as a step toward admission.

Act of Admission

Congressional act admitting a new state to the Union.

Grants-in-Aid Programs

Grants of federal money or other resources to states, cities, and other local units.

Categorical Grants

Grants-in-aid made for a specific and closely defined purpose.

Block Grants

Federal grants-in-aid for some particular but broadly defined area of public policy.

Interstate Compact

Formal agreement, with the consent of Congress, between states or between a state and a foreign state.

Extradition

Legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Constitutional provision stating that citizens are entitled to certain privileges and immunities regardless of their state of residence.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitutional provision requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Constitutionally Guaranteed Powers

Powers that the Constitution guarantees to the national government, the states, or the people.

Revenue Sharing

Federal distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments with few restrictions on spending.

Devolution

Transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to state and local governments.

Politics

The process by which a society decides how power and resources are distributed.

Electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election.

Public Opinion

The attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics.

Mass Media

Means of communication that reach large audiences, including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the internet.

Political Socialization

The process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions.

Ideology

A set of beliefs and values about government, politics, and public policy.

Liberal

Person generally favoring government action to promote social and economic equality.

Conservative

Person generally favoring limited government involvement in economic affairs and traditional social values.

Moderate

Person whose views fall between liberal and conservative positions.

Political Culture

Shared beliefs, values, and habits regarding government and politics.

Census

Official population count conducted every ten years.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of seats in the House of Representatives among the states after each census.

Redistricting

Process of drawing new electoral district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

Drawing district boundaries to favor a particular political party, group, or incumbent.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Franchise

Another term for the right to vote.

Disenfranchise

To deny or take away the right to vote.

Poll Tax

Tax once required as a condition for voting.

Literacy Test

Test once used to determine a person's ability to read and write before being allowed to vote.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark law prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Federal law designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the Fifteenth Amendment.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Constitutional amendment prohibiting poll taxes in federal elections.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 18.

Voter Registration

Process by which qualified voters sign up to vote.

Motor Voter Law

Federal law requiring states to provide voter registration opportunities when applying for or renewing driver's licenses.

Absentee Voting

Voting without being physically present at the polling place on Election Day.

Turnout

Percentage of eligible voters who actually cast ballots in an election.

Ballot

Device used by voters to register a choice in an election.

Australian Ballot

Secret ballot printed by the government listing all candidates.

Political Party

Group of persons seeking to control government through winning elections and holding public office.

Partisanship

Strong support for a political party and its policies.

Two-Party System

Political system in which two major parties dominate elections and government.

Minor Party

Political party that is not one of the two major parties and has limited electoral success.

Third Party

Any political party other than the two major parties.