Principles of Government

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between central national government and individual regional governments, such as states or provinces

Supremacy Clause

States that the Constitution, federal laws made under it, and U.S. treaties are the “supreme Law of the Land”

Separation of Powers

A political model that divides the duties of government into distinct branches

Judicial Branch

The system of courts that interprets the laws, applies them to specific cases, and decides if they agree with the constitution

Legislative Branch

The part of the government that makes and passes laws

Executive Branch

The part of the government that puts laws into action and enforces them

Checks and Balances

A system that lets each branch of a government limit the power of the other branches

Judicial Review

The power of courts to check the actions of the legislative and executive branches and declare them void if they go against the constitution

Popular Sovereignty

The political principle that the authority, legitimacy, and power of a government are derived from the people, who are the ultimate rulers

Force Theory

A concept in political science stating that governments and states begin through violence, conquest, and physical control

Social Contract Theory

The idea that people give up some of their absolute freedom and agree to live by rules

Divine Right of the Kings theory

A political and religious doctrine asserting that a monarch receives the right to rule directly from God

Evolutionary Theory

Explains how all living things change over long times

Characteristics of a State

population, territory, sovereignty, and government