Unit 1.1

From the APUSGov_Texts_Unit1 Document

natural rights

certain rights that cannot be taken away

social contract

implicit agreement among the people in a society to give up some freedoms to maintain a social order

popular sovereignty

all government power is comes from the consent of the people

limited government

a governments power cannot be absolute and stems from the consent of the people

separation of powers

Different governmental departments dedicated to each legislative realm, writing laws (Congress), enforcing laws (Executive), and interpreting laws (Judiciary)

checks and balances

system that ensures no branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

federalism

The division of power and authority between the national and state governments

Republicanism

The use of a public process in the selection of representatives