government with a ruler who inherits the position (or divine right), may rule for life & holds powers varying from very limited to total rule
New cards
3
dictatorship
a system of government in which a single person or group excerisises supreme power based on its control of the military and police
New cards
4
direct democracy
where everyone votes on all issues in a community
New cards
5
totalitarianism
a system of government that is centralized and dictorial and requires complete subservience to the state
New cards
6
communism
a system of government in which a group of people will control government and businesses. The economic & political system in the government owns the means of production & decides what will be produced
New cards
7
rule of law
the legal principle that every group and person, including the government, must obey the law. no one is above the law, no one is below that law.
New cards
8
popular sovereignty
people are the only source of power for the government. power resides not with the government or its leaders but with the people.
New cards
9
checks and balances
a system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches
New cards
10
federalism
idea that the national government shares power with the state government
New cards
11
federalists
favored a strong national government that shared power with the states.
New cards
12
eminent domain
government can take property from someone but give fair amount of money of it
New cards
13
double jeopardy
cannot be tried for the same crime twice
New cards
14
autocracy
government when one person has all the power
New cards
15
oligarchy
small group of people has all the power.
New cards
16
representative democracy / republicl
citizens elect leaders to operate the government and represent their rights and interests in government
New cards
17
limited government
the power of the government limited by the constitution and each branch is limited in what it can do.
New cards
18
great compromise
the plan for representation by roger sherman of connecticut that settled the divide between the big states and the small states. the legislative was divided into a senate where all the states have 2 representatives and a house of representatives where membership is based on each states population
New cards
19
constituents
a person who lives in an electoral district and is represented by an elected official. a person from a legislator’s district.
New cards
20
3/5 compromise
A plan that only allowed 3/5ths of slave populations to be counted toward a state’s population for the purpose of determining congressional representation. This prevented slave states from gaining extra representatives in the House while denying the most basic rights to slaves.
New cards
21
anti-federalists
Opposed the ratification of the Constitution because they favored the Articles of Confederation which kept the federal government weak and strong state’s rights. Agreed to the Constitution once a Bill of Rights was promised.
New cards
22
Impeachment
To Bring charges against a gov’t official for a crime. The first step in removing an elected official from office.
New cards
23
civil law
Groups of laws that refer to disputes among people or organizations.
New cards
24
due process
The gov’t has to follow rules & established procedures in everything it does.
New cards
25
elite
A small group of people within a larger group who have more power, wealth, or talent than the others.
New cards
26
parliamentary democracy
A system of democratic government in which the legislative majority selects from within its ranks, the chief executive for the nation.
New cards
27
unitary system of government
A system of government where power is centralized almost exclusively at the federal level.
New cards
28
federal system of government
A system with two levels of government; the lower state/local level and the upper federal or central level of government.
New cards
29
confederal system of government
A system of government where power rests at the state level and the power of the federal government is intentionally weak.
New cards
30
socialism
Economic system where working people own & control the means of production & distribution through democratically-controlled public agencies, cooperative or other collective groups. There are many varieties.
New cards
31
natural law
A universal set of moral principles believed to come from human’s basic sense of right and wrong that can be applied to any culture or system of justice
New cards
32
charter
a document issued by a government that gives rights to a person or group English Monarchs granted a written Document which granted land for colonial gov’ts. To those wanting to come into the U.S.
New cards
33
individual rights
Rights and liberties that can be claimed by individuals by virtue of Being Human also can be called Natural or Human Rights.
New cards
34
natural rights
Rights that all people have by virtue of being human. John Lockes idea included life, liberty, and property. He thought some people would give up some rights for protection.
New cards
35
social contract
Agreement between gov’t and people to take care of one another. It’s an agreement between the people in society.
New cards
36
tyranny
Cruel and oppressive gov’t or rule.
New cards
37
separation of powers
Power of gov’t are divided among 3 branches of gov’t, to prevent any 1 person or group from gaining too much power. Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
New cards
38
militias
A reserve army made up of civilians who are trained to fight & can serve full time in an emergency.
New cards
39
ratification
Formal approval of an agreement, treaty or constitution.
New cards
40
constitutionalism
The belief that gov’t should operate according to an agreed set of principles, which are usually spelled out in a written constitution.
New cards
41
majority rule
Idea that decisions approved by more than 1/2 of the people in a group or society will be accepted and observed by all the people.
New cards
42
bicameral
Made up of 2 houses.
New cards
43
unicameral
Made up of 1 house.
New cards
44
electoral College
A body of electors from each state who cast votes to elect the president and vice president.
New cards
45
habeas corpus
Court order that requires the gov’t to bring a prisoner to court & explain why he or she is being held.
New cards
46
civil case
A legal case that does not involve criminal conduct, such as a lawsuit.
New cards
47
enumerated powers
Powers of the federal government, specifically given by the U.S. Constitution. These include: coining money, regulating trade, making immigration law, declaring war and funding & regulating armed forces.
New cards
48
implied powers
Powers of the federal government not exclusively in the Constitution, but which Congress reasonably claim as part of their responsibilities.
New cards
49
necessary and Proper Clause / Elastic Clause
Gives Congress the powers to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out powers specifically delegated to them by the Constitution.
New cards
50
supremacy Clause
Article IV, states that it (the Constitution) is the “Supreme Law of the Land”, this means that when state and federal law are in conflict, the Constitution supersedes all state and local law
New cards
51
bill of rights
First 10 amendments to the U.S Constitution - details specific freedoms that belong to each American citizen.
New cards
52
veto
The power of the president to reject a Bill and sent it back to Congress.
New cards
53
delegated powers
Powers that are clearly spelled out in the constitution for the federal gov’t.
New cards
54
reserved powers
Powers granted to the states. These include marriage laws, driving laws, traffic regulations, maintaining education system, conducting elections.
New cards
55
concurrent powers
Powers shared by the federal and state governments under the U.S. Constitution.
New cards
56
commerence clause
The power of Congress to regulate all foreign
New cards
57
independent judiciary
A system of judges and courts that is separate from other branches of government.
New cards
58
original intent
What are the framers of the U.S. Constitution meant or were trying.
New cards
59
precedent
A decision by a court that serves as an example or guide for future decisions.
New cards
60
civil liberties
Basic freedoms that are considered to be the birthright of all citizens (1st amendment.
New cards
61
civil rights
Guarantees of equal rights & equal treatment under the law, such as trial by jury & voting rights.
New cards
62
equal protection clasue
4th Amendment - It is unlawful for a state to deny “equal protection under the laws” to any person within that state.
New cards
63
incorporation
The process by which the Supreme Court applies the Bill of Rights to the states through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.
New cards
64
secular
Not religious or spiritual in nature.
New cards
65
libel
A written statement that is known to be untrue and intended to cause damage.
New cards
66
slander
Speech that is known to be untrue and intended to cause damage.
New cards
67
obscenity
Speech or other forms of expression considered offensive to conventional standards or decency.
New cards
68
symbolic speech
Conduct that conveys a message without spoken words.
New cards
69
prior restraint
A government’s attempt to prevent the publication or broadcast material considered harmful.
New cards
70
warrant
A document issued by a judge that authorizes law enforcement officers to carry out a search, seizure of evidence or arrest.
New cards
71
probable cause
Reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior.
New cards
72
self-incrimination
Statements, usually made under oath, suggesting that the person speaking is guilty of a crime.
New cards
73
taking clause
Prohibits the government from taking private property for public use without compensation.
New cards
74
bail
Money given over to a court in exchange for a criminal suspect’s release from jail until their trial.
New cards
75
capital punishment
The imposition of the death penalty on a person by the state.
New cards
76
consent of the governed
A principle that the only real or legitimate government is one where the authority of a government is based on the consent of the people, as expressed by votes in election.
New cards
77
legislative branch
Branch that makes the laws consisting of the House and Senate.
New cards
78
executive branch
The branch of government that carries out the laws and daily operation of the government. It is headed by a president & vice president.
New cards
79
judicial branch
Branch of government that interprets the laws
New cards
80
representative
A person elected to act on the behalf of other citizens.
New cards
81
departments
One of the major parts of a company, organization, government or school. Functional or territorial division as a major administrative division of a government.
New cards
82
regulations
An official rule or law that says how something should be done. A rule or order issued by an executive authority or regulatory agency of a government & having the force of law.
New cards
83
economy
The process or system by which goods & services are produced, sold & bought in a Country or region, Includes the factors of production and their system of money.
New cards
84
market economy
Economic system that relies mainly on markets to determine what goods & services to produce & how to produce them.
New cards
85
command economy
An economics system that relies mainly on the central government to determine what goods and services to produce & how to produce them.
New cards
86
mixed economy
Economic system that combines market forces with elements of a command economy.
New cards
87
incentive
Something that encourages a person to do something or to work harder.
New cards
88
competition
Actions that are done by people, companies, ect. that are competing against each other.
New cards
89
innovation
The introduction of something new.
New cards
90
supply
The amount of products or resources available to purchase.
New cards
91
demand
The amount of products or resources wanted at a specific price & time.
New cards
92
opportunity cost
The value of the next best alternative that is given up when making a choice.
New cards
93
scarcity
The condition that exists because people have limited resources, but unlimited wants.
New cards
94
tariffs
Taxes on imports and exports.
New cards
95
budget
A spending plan indicating income and expenses during a given time.
New cards
96
mandatory spending
Assigned spending. Expenditures required by law to be allocated in specific ways.
New cards
97
discretionary spending
Spending that is not fixed and can be raised and lowered by the legislative body.
Studied by 6 people
