BJU US Government Chapter 2 Terms

monarchy

a government in which supreme authority is invested in one who rules for life

monarch

a leader of a government who rules for life and whose absolute authority is sometimes checked by other governmental bodies

constitutional monarchy

a form of monarchy in which the government usually is run by a democratically elected parliament and the monarch is merely a ceremonial head of state

dynasty

a monarchy that operates with hereditary succession

absolute monarch

a monarch with unlimited power

dictatorship

an authoritative form of government in which the government acts without the people's consent or input

totalitarianism

system of government in which an elite ruling class (such as the military, the wealthy, or a powerful family) wields absolute power, often seeking to control every aspect of the people's lives

autocracy

a form of dictatorial government in which one person rules with supreme authority

oligarchy

a form of dictatorial government in which an elite group rules; the group is sometimes self-appointed and divides the governmental departments among its members.

anarchy

condition in which a state has no functioning government

popular government

system of government in which citizens participate and political power resides with the people, rather than with a monarchy or an elite group

direct democracy

also called pure democracy; a form of government in which the people directly affect a government's policies and actions through gatherings and voting

indirect democracy

also called representative democracy; form of government in which the people elect their peers to operate the government on their behalf

republic

state in which the supreme power rests in the people and their elected officials

unitary system

a system in which the people give authority to one centralized level of government that then creates other levels of government to help administer the law

federalism

system in which governmental power is divided into two or more levels, usually a central, national government and component state governments.

confederate government

system in which regional governments retain supremacy while delegating a few tasks to the national government

presidential system

a system in which the people directly elect the head of the executive branch independently of the legislative branch; the two branches are both separate and equal.

parliamentary system

a system in which the legislative and executive branches are inseparably linked

delegated powers

powers specifically given to the national government by the Constitution; define the limits of the government's authority

Congress

at the federal level, the legislative branch of American government; a bicameral legislature composed of a lower house called the House of Representatives and a higher house called the Senate

House of Representatives

the lower house in Congress; representation based on state population

Senate

the upper house in Congress; representation equal for each state, with each having two senators.

president

the chief executive officer and head of the executive branch

Supreme Court

the highest court of the judicial branch of the nation

democracy

form of government in which the people participate and have a voice in how they should be ruled

Magna Carta

a list of demands that King John of England was forced to sign in 1215; restored the feudal rights of English barons and contained principles that caused it to become a foundational document of constitutional government

due process

certain legal rules that the government must follow to protect the rights of the accused

English Bill of Rights

a document signed by William and Mary in 1689; limited the monarchy's power and asserted the people's rights; the most important development in constitutional government since the Magna Carta

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the Constitution; protects citizens' democratic rights by limiting the power of state and national governments

Electoral College

the system used to elect the U.S. president; each state has a number of electors equal to that state's representation in Congress; at least 270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidency

majority rule

a principle of government asserting that a numerical majority of the electorate can make decisions that bind the entire electorate

popular majority

the majority of all citizens or at least the majority of all voters who participate in their government through free elections

representative majority

a majority of elected officials

pluralistic society

a society in which differing opinions and parties coexist freely

equality

as a democratic principle, political or legal parity characterized by equal justice and an equal right to vote

civic thinking

having an understanding of the political ideas and institutions that shape America's government, an appreciation for America's heritage, and an ability to evaluate current issues and national direction