Civics: Unit 1 Topic 1 Vocabulary

Liberty

The state or quality of being free.

Governance

The act of overseeing and directing the resources, actions, and responsibilities of a group or place.

Government

The group or organization that makes decisions on behalf of the people in a political unit, such as a country, state, or city.

Social contract

The idea that a government is an agreement between those who are governed and those who govern.

Democracy

A government in which the people hold power.

Direct democracy

A government in which citizens vote directly on the issues that affect them.

Representative democracy

A form of democracy in which people elect representatives instead of voting directly on laws.

Republic

A society governed by representatives of the people.

Constitutional republic

A government in which leaders are elected by the people and carry out their roles as outlined in the country’s constitution, or set of principles and laws.

Monarchy

A form of government with a head of state who inherits the position and rules for life.

Constitutional monarchy

A monarchy in which laws or customs significantly limit the monarch’s power.

Autocracy

A form of government in which one person has unlimited power and authority.

Dictator

A head of government who has unlimited power and authority.

Tyranny

Oppressive, harsh power.

Oligarchy

A government led and controlled by a small group of people.

Theocracy

A form of government in which a religious leader, or leaders, holds power.

Authoritarian

Characterized by the concentration of governmental authority in a leader not constitutionally accountable to the people.

Totalitarian

Characterized by a centralized government that asserts total control over citizens and the national economy.

Fascism

A form of totalitarian government characterized by dictatorship, political oppression, extreme nationalism, and bigotry against minority groups.

Unitary

Characterized by having a strong central government that exercises most of the political power.

Federal

Characterized by sharing power between a central government and various smaller governments.

Confederate

Formed out of smaller, highly independent members such as tribes or states.

Legislature

The lawmaking body in a government.

Head of State

The symbolic and ceremonial leader of a country who may also exercise political power.

Head of Government

The political leader of a country who oversees government policies at the highest level.

Parliamentary system

A system of representative democracy in which the people elect the legislature, whose members then choose a leader to head the government.

Presidential system

A system of representative democracy in which the people elect both the legislature and the head of government.

Political party

An organized group whose members support candidates for political office based on shared ideals and goals.

Bicameral

In a legislature, having two separate houses or chambers.

Unicameral

In a legislature, having a single house or chamber.

Capitalism

An economic system in which individuals and private companies own the means of production and operate for profit.

Socialism

An economic system in which the government or community collectively owns and controls major industries.

Communism

An economic system in which all property is publicly owned and the government makes all decisions about production and distribution.

Mixed economy

An economy that includes capitalistic elements of a free market as well as some government intervention in the interest of both economic stability and the public good.

Separation of powers

Division of government into different branches with distinct responsibilities.

Checks and balances

Ways in which different branches of government limit (or check) each other’s powers.