Civics (Unit 1)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Unit 1 notes on social contract theory, Enlightenment thinkers, kinds of government, democracy features, distribution of power, and reasoning framework.

Social contract

An agreement in which people give up some freedoms and submit to government in exchange for security and social order.

State of nature

A hypothetical condition of humanity before the establishment of organized societies or governments.

Natural rights

Rights that all people have by virtue of being human (as identified by Locke: life, liberty, and property).

Life, liberty and property

John Locke's listed natural rights that governments should protect.

European Enlightenment thinkers

Philosophers who advanced ideas about government, rights, and reason (e.g., Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau).

Thomas Hobbes

Enlightenment thinker who argued the state of nature is 'nasty, brutish, and short' and that people surrender freedom to a monarch for order.

Leviathan

Hobbes's book arguing for a powerful sovereign to avoid the state of nature.

John Locke

Philosopher who advocated the social contract, natural rights, and government by consent and the right to alter or abolish government that violates rights.

Charles de Montesquieu

Thinker who emphasized separation of powers and checks and balances in government.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosopher whose social contract theory centers on the general will and laws for the public good.

Power

The ability of one person or group to make another person or group do something, even if they don’t want to.

Authority

The right to use power, often granted by law, tradition, or the consent of the people.

Authoritarianism

A form of government where power is concentrated and citizens have little say.

Autocracy

A government where a single person holds all political power.

Absolute monarchy

A system where a king or queen holds all power, typically inherited.

Dictatorship

A government led by a dictator who holds power by force and restricts rights.

Oligarchy

A government where a small group—elites or a military council—holds power.

Theocracy

A government where religious leaders rule in the name of a god or higher power.

Single-party state

A political system in which only one party is legally allowed to exist and hold power.

Totalitarianism

A regime in which the government has complete and total control over public and private life.

Democracy

A system where the people hold power and influence government decisions through voting and participation.

Direct democracy

A system where all citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Representative democracy

A system where citizens elect representatives to make laws and policies for them.

Parliamentary democracy

Executive is chosen from the leading party in the legislature and can be removed by it.

Presidential democracy

Executive is elected separately from the legislature; both branches have separate powers.

Constitutional monarchy

A monarchy that shares power with a constitutionally organized government with limited authority.

Limited government

Government powers are restricted, typically by a written constitution.

Rule of law

Government operates under clear, fairly enforced laws applying to everyone.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the people are the ultimate source of governmental authority.

Constitution

A written plan outlining a government’s powers and the rights of the people.

Separation of powers

Powers are divided among two or more independent branches.

Checks and balances

Each branch can limit the powers of the other branches.

Federal system

Power is shared between a strong central government and strong state/regional governments.

Unitary system

All power is held by a central government; local authorities exist with powers granted by the center.

Confederal system

Most power rests with state or regional governments; central government is weak (e.g., Articles of Confederation).

Claim-Evidence-Reasoning

A framework for argument: claim is the main point, evidence supports it, and reasoning explains why the evidence proves the claim.