Civics Unit 2- Foundation of US Government

Limited government

Government is not all-powerful; it may only do those things people have given it the power to do.

Rule of law

Everyone, including government officials, must follow the law.

Representative government

People elect public officeholders to make laws and conduct government on the people's behalf.

Unalienable rights

Freedoms that everyone is born with and cannot be taken away (Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness).

Confederation

A group of individuals or state governments.

Constitution

A written plan of government.

Primary source

A document, first-hand account, or other source that constitutes direct evidence of an object of study.

Secondary source

A book, article, or other source that provides information about an object of study, but it is not direct, first-hand evidence.

Principles

A belief that serves as a foundation for people and government.

Concepts

A general idea.

Govern

To guide a group of people, a community, or a country.

Republicanism

A system of government where citizens elect representatives to make laws.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided and shared between a national government and smaller state governments.

Separation of Powers

When a government divides its power into three branches.

Checks & Balances

A government system that prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the government's power comes from the people it governs.