Holt McDougal United States Government Chapter 1 vocab

sovereignty

The supreme power to act within its territory and to control its external affairs

politics

Is the process by which government makes and carries out decisions

legitimacy

Rulers are seen as right and proper by important segments of a nation's population

divine right of kings

Kings often claimed that their power stemmed from the will of God

social contract theory

The first governments formed as a result of people agreeing among themselves to submit to the authority of a state

monarchy

The government is headed by one person, such as a king or a queen, who exercises supreme authority

government

Is made up of the formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made for a group of people

power

The government's authority and ability to get things done

policy

Is any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular goal

state

Is a political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory

dictatorship

Is a system of rule in which one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can hold unlimited power over government

oligarchy

Meaning rule by a few, or an aristocracy

direct democracy

Citizens met regularly in a popular assembly to discuss issues and vote for leaders

republic

Is an indirect form of democracy that places political decision making at least one step away from the people

unitary system

Sovereignty, or ultimate authority, rests in a single, national government

federal system

Divides power over people and territory between a national government and smaller, regional levels of government

confederal system

Independent states join forces by forming a central government, called a confederation

presidential system

Is distinguished by having a president that is elected by the people for a limited term of office

parliamentary system

The executive and legislative branches of government are combined

ideal

Is a 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 no 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 in 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

Ideally, a candidate wins an election by a majority, by getting more than half of the votes cast

minority rights

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

liberal democracy

The individual rights and liberties of all people, including those in the minority, are protected

free enterprise

Allows for people and businesses to make their own economic choices about how best to produce, distribute, and exchange goods and services with limited interference from government

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