US & VA GOVERNMENT

Unit 1 Vocab

Public Policies:

All of the things a government decides to do

• Example:  Trying to fix the health care issue

State

• A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and with the power to make & enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.

• Example:   Republic of Ireland, Republic of Botswana, United States of America.

Sovereign

• The supreme and absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign & domestic policies

• Example:   A state can determine its form of government

Autocracy (Dictatorship)

• A government in which a single person holds unlimited political power

• Example:  Hitler in Germany

Unitary Government

• A centralized government, all powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency.

• Example:  Great Britain

Federal Government

• The powers of government are divided between a central government & several local governments

• Example:  Canada, Australia

Confederation

• An alliance of independent states (limited powers in defense & foreign commerce)

• Example:  Rare today, European Union (free trade, common currency)

Parliamentary Government

• A form of government in which the executive branch is made up of the prime minister, and their cabinet.

• Example:  British, Canadian, & Japanese governments

Majority Rule

• The will of the people determines public policy

• Example:  Popular Vote

Free Enterprise System

• An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control, & determined in a free market

• Example:  American Economy