AP Gov Civics Vocab. for Chapter One Test

Government

the formal structures and institutions through which a territory and its people are ruled

Power

refers to the government’s authority and ability to get things done

Policy

any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular goal

State

a political unit made up by a group of people that lives within a clearly defined territory

Sovereignty

ultimate, supreme power in a state; in the United States, sovereignty rests with the people

Politics

the process by which government makes and carries out decisions

Legitimacy

right and proper

Divine Right of Kings

the theory that a monarch rules by the sanction, or approval, of God

Social Contract Theory

a theory of society in which government is a contract between a government and the governed to provide protection and support for the people; under this theory, a government is legitimate only so long as the people voluntarily agree to hand over their power to the state

Monarchy

a form of government in which political power is exercised by a single ruler, such as a king or queen, who exercises absolute authority under the claim of divine or hereditary right

Dictatorship

a system of rule in which one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can hold unlimited power over government, which is usually controlled by force

Oligarchy

rule by a few small groups of people, usually members of the military or the economic elite

Direct Democracy

a form of government in which citizens met regularly in a popular assembly to discuss issues of the day, pass laws, and vote for leaders

Republic

an indirect form of democracy in which people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf

Unitary Sytem

a form of government in which all authority is vested in a central government from which region and local governments derive their powers

Federal System

a form of political organization in which power is divided among a central government and territorial subdivisions; in the United States power is shared among one national, state, and local governments

Confederal System

an alliance of independent states manifesting a degree of national unity through a central government of united powers (e.g., the United States under the Articles of Confederation)

Presidential System

a form of government headed by a president who is elected by the people for a limited term of office and whose powers are balanced by an elected legislature

Parliamentary System

a form of government in which the chief executive is the leader whose party holds the most seats in the legislature after an election or whose party forms a major part of the ruling coalition

Ideal

conception of something in its most perfect form

Liberty

the ability of people to act and think as they choose, so long as their choices do not harm to the liberty or well-being of others

Equality

the principle that all people possess a fundamental, moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment under the law and equal opportunity and all aspects of life — political, social, and economic

Self-government

the belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and do so as political equals

Majority Rule

a basic principle of democracy that decisions are made by a majority, by getting more than half of the votes cast

Minority rights

the political rights held by groups that make up less than half of the population

Liberal Democracy

a form of democracy that protects the rights of the minority

Free enterprise

an economic system in which individuals and businesses are free to engage in economic activity with a minimum of government interference