McBlock Vocab Comparative

Consent of the governed

To express willingness or approval to be ruled.

Limited Government

The principle that a ruler or government is not all-powerful.

Popular Sovereignty

Power rests with people. People have the ultimate authority in deciding how the government is run.

Dictatorship

In a dictatorship, ne person usually through violence, takes control of all decision-making from the people.

Totalitarian/Totalitarianism

Ideology under the authoritarian type of government that does not tolerate different opinions and controls many aspects of life.

Constitutional Monarchy

King or Queen limited by a constitution, or a set of rules, that makes them subject to rule of law.

Absolute Monarchy

A King or Queen who completely controls the government’s decision-making process.

Theocracy

Government operated by religious authorities who claim unlimited power in the name of God or a divine power.

Republic (Representative Democracy/Democratic Republic)

Where people are elected by the citizens to speak or act on their behalf.

Direct Democracy

Where citizens vote directly on laws and issues that affect the government. One person, one vote.

Traditional Economy

System in which economic questions are answered based on habit or how they have been done.

Command/Communism Economy

The government controls all aspects of the economy and means of production (land, labor, and capital).

Market/Capitalism Economy

System in which individuals and businesses own the means of production (land, labor, and capital).

Mixed Market/Socialism

A system in which the government owns some factors of the production but allows some private ownership of business.

Oligarchy

Government power is invested in a few, or a group. (Can be an aristocracy or a meritocracy).

Authoritarianism

All are subject to the authority. Governing authority does not rest with the people.

Opportunity Cost

The loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen.