Magruders Chapter 1 Vocab

government

institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies

legislative power

the power to make a law and to frame public policies

executive power

the power to execute, enforce, and administer law

judicial power

the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society

constitution

the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government

dictatorship

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

democracy

a form of government 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 and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority

sovereign

having supreme power within its own territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority

direct democracy

a government where the citizens make the laws and other decisions themselves

autocracy

a form of government in which a single person holds unlimited political power

oligarchy

A form of government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite

unitary government

a centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single central agency

federal government

a form of government in which powers are divided between a central government and several local governments

division of power

basic principle of federalism; the constitution provisions by which government powers are divided on a geographic basis [in U.S. between national government and the states]

confederation

An alliance of independent states

presidential government

a form of government in which the executive and legislative branches of the government are separate, independent, and coequal

parliamentary government

A form of government in which the executive branch is made up of the prime minister, or premier, and that official's cabinet

Social Contract

agreement between government and the people where people voluntarily give up some of their rights in order to be governed in exchange for protection of rights. However, if government does not protect individual rights the people have the right to institute a new government

compromise

adjustment of opposing principles by modifying aspects of each