dual credit national government unit one

politics

the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant benefits or privileges

government

the institution that has the ultimate authority for making decisions that resolve conflicts and allocate benefits and privileges within a society

order

a state of peace and security

liberty

the greatest freedom of the individual that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society

authority

the right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions

legitimacy

popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority

authoritarianism

a type of regime in which only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler

initiative

a procedure by which voters can petition to vote on a law or constitutional amendment

referendum

an electoral device whereby legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or dismissal

recall

a procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired

republic

sovereign power rests with the people, rather than with a king or monarch

popular sovereignty

the concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people

democratic republic

a republic in which leaders elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies

representative democracy

a form of government in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies

majoritarianism

a political theory holding that, in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want