gov unit 1

Government

The formal structures and institutions through which decisions are made for a group of people.

Power

The government's authority and ability to accomplish things.

Policy

Any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular goal.

State

A political community made up by a group of people that lives within a clearly defined territory.

Population Counting

Registered citizens count toward the population, not visitors or people in their secondary residence.

Territory

Clearly defined borders determining who lives or does not live inside of your state.

Governing Process

The recognized authority from the population inside a territory, also recognized by other states as the authority to that territory.

Sovereignty

The supreme power of the state to act within its territory.

National Security

Protecting the nation's people and territory from outside threats.

Maintaining Order

An example is police presence being added to a major event (ballgame).

Conflict Resolution in the US

The two ways are the court system or a change in political leader.

Politics

The process by which the government makes and carries out decisions as to whose interests will be served in society.

Government Services

Expected services include public schools, roads, first responders, and military.

Non-rivalrous Good

Goods that are for anyone to use.

Eminent Domain

The legal power of a government to take private property for public use, with the requirement that the property owner receives fair pay for it.

Eminent Domain Examples

Needed for community needs like power lines, sewage, or roads; not needed for shopping centers, airports, or public buildings.

Legitimacy

When rulers are seen as right and proper by important segments of a nation's population.

Divine Right

An idea that was pushed back on by the revelations of the enlightenment.

Divine Rights of Kings

Theory that the king is answerable only to God, not the people he ruled.

John Locke

The philosopher who came up with life, liberty, and property.

Natural Rights

Rights that supersede government and are inherent at birth.

Overthrowing Government

If the government infringes or fails to protect the natural rights of citizens, Locke says the people must overthrow that government.

Social Contract

Rousseau's idea for the people to choose individuals to govern them through natural rights.

Dictatorship

A single leader who holds complete power both in public and private life where violence is the main source of control.

Direct Democracy

Citizens are the source of government authority; they vote on everything to set policy.

Representative Democracy Components

1) Citizens are the source of authority 2) Citizens elect representatives to set policy on their behalf 3) Representatives elected for set terms.

Federal System

A system of government in which power over people and territory is divided between a national government and smaller, regional levels of government.

Liberty

The ability of people to act and think as they choose, as long as their choices do no harm to the liberty or well-being of others.

Equality of Opportunity

Allowing each individual the same opportunities in this nation.

Worth of the Individual

Aspects include freedom, responsibility, reliance, and achievement.

Majority Rule

A decision-making system in which the candidate who receives more than half the votes cast, or more votes than any other candidate, wins the election.

Free Enterprise

An economic system in which people and businesses make their own choices about how best to produce, distribute, and exchange goods and services, with limited interference from the government.

State Law Differences

An example is gambling laws differing in Alabama vs. Nevada.