Unit 1 vocab

Authoritarian

Governments in which the people must obey leaders who are not required to answer to the people.

Communism

A totalitarian form of government in which the State owns and controls all businesses and there is no private property or wealth.

Conservatism

A belief that limited (smaller) government insures more competitive markets, less government regulations and lower taxes.

Free Enterprise

Economic system in which individuals can own property and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference

Liberalism

A belief that government should fund and oversee social programs to achieve justice and equality of opportunity.

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Autocracy

A system of government by one person with absolute power. A.K.A. a monarchy or dictatorship

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution which contain our basic political rights.

Democracy

Government by the people

Divine Right Theory

The idea that the God chose the person or family to rule.

Initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

Libertarianism

A political ideology that is opposed to all government action except as necessary to protect life and property

Moderate

Person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies

Partisanship

Firm allegiance to a political party

Public Services

Services offered by the government to provide education, security and protection for citizens and businesses.

Referendum

A general vote by the people on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Social Contract Theory

The belief first espoused by John Locke that people are free and equal, and that government rules only with consent of those it governs

Socialism

A system in which the government uses policy and state power to create a more equal distribution of resources and goods.

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

Totalitarian

Authoritarian regime that usually features a powerful, charismatic dictator and a fixed worldview

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally.

Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

confederation

A joining of several groups for a common purpose.

congress

the legislature (lawmaking body) of the United States government

constitution

A written plan of government

Declaration of Independence

the document sent by the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

federal

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments (term also means "national")

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally.

Great Compromise

agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation to please both the small and large states

legislature

A group of people who have the power to make laws

Mayflower Compact

1620 - The first agreement for self-government in America. It set up a government for the Plymouth colony.

ratify

to approve

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House of Representatives (negated by the 13th amendment in 1865)