Democracy Chapter 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering the origins, characteristics, and ideological types of democracy as presented in the Chapter 1 lecture notes.

Direct democracy

Considered the "purest form" of democracy, originating in ancient Greece (Athens and Sparta), where citizens vote directly.

John Locke

A philosopher who believed in the protection of natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and the existence of a social contract between people and government.

Representative democracy

A form of U.S. democracy where elected officials legislate for the public good.

Constitutional democracy

A system where a written constitution serves as a rule book for the government, adding stability and predictability; it also limits the power of the majority by a supreme law.

Republic

A system where ultimate political power resides with the people and there is an absence of a monarch (king or queen).

Recall elections

Special elections that allow voters to remove government officials before their term ends.

Referendums

Ballot questions that allow voters to approve or reject proposed laws.

Totalatarianism

A form of government characterized by a dictatorship.

authritarianism

A semi-dictatorship where there are political prisoners.

Thoecracy

A government system where there is no separation of religion and government.

Conservatism

An ideology that is fiscally concerned with societal growth rather than wealth distribution and socially focused on traditional religious structures.

Liberalism (progressives)

An ideology focused on equal and individual rights, civil rights, and fair distribution.

Libertarianism

A philosophy that states each individual should own personal liberty and ownership of their property without violating others' rights.

Socialism

A system where the community or the government owns and manages resources and industries with the goal to distribute and circulate wealth among the people.

Political puralism

The coexistence of different parties with different political philosophies, including independents.

Due process of law

The requirement that the government must respect all legal rights due to a person.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the US constitution which protect individual liberties.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the majority vote of the people determines what the outcome will be.