Scale 4 gov't

Checks and Balances

a system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches

Federalism

a political system in which power is divided between a central government and smaller regional governments

Independent Judiciary

a system of judges and courts that is separate from other branches of government

Individual Rights

the rights and liberties that can be claimed by individuals by virtue of being human; also called natural rights or human rights

Limited Government

a political system in which the powers exercised by the government are restricted, usually by a written constitution

Popular Sovereignty

the principle that the people are the ultimate source of the authority and legitimacy of a government

Rule of Law

the principle that government is based on clear and fairly enforced laws and that no one is above the law

Separation of Powers

the idea that the powers of a government should be split between two or more strongly independent branches to prevent any one person or group from gaining too much power