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Articles of Confederation

First governing document of the United States.

Checks and Balances

System preventing any government branch from overpowering others.

Natural/Unalienable Rights

Rights inherent to all individuals, cannot be taken away.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments.

Popular Sovereignty

Authority of government derives from the consent of the governed.

Articles of Confederation

First governing document of the United States.

Bicameral

Legislature with two separate chambers.

Checks and Balances

System preventing one branch from overpowering others.

City State

Independent sovereign city with its territory.

Colonies

Territories governed by a foreign power.

Confederation

Union of sovereign states for common goals.

Constitutions

Fundamental principles governing a state or organization.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting to draft the U.S. Constitution.

Declaration of Independence

Document declaring American colonies' independence from Britain.

Democracy

Government by the people, typically through elected representatives.

Dictatorship

Government controlled by a single leader or party.

English Bill of Rights

1689 act limiting the powers of the monarchy.

The Enlightenment

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism.

Empire

Extensive group of states under a single authority.

Equality

State of being equal in rights and opportunities.

Federal

Relating to a system of government with shared powers.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments.

Government

System or group governing an organized community.

Kingdom

State ruled by a monarch.

Limited Government

Government restricted by laws to protect individual rights.

Magna Carta

1215 document limiting the power of the English king.

Mayflower Compact

1620 agreement for self-governance by Pilgrims.

Natural/Unalienable Rights

Fundamental rights inherent to all humans.

Parliamentary

System where executive derives legitimacy from legislature.

Politics

Activities associated with governance and decision-making.

Popular Sovereignty

Principle that government derives power from the people.

Presidential

System where the president is the head of state.

Public Policies

Decisions and actions taken by government.

Representative Government

Government where officials are elected to represent citizens.

Republic

State where power rests with elected representatives.

Separation of Powers

Division of government responsibilities into distinct branches.

Unicameral

Legislature with a single chamber.

Unitary

System where power is centralized in a single authority.