Video Notes: Government Roles, Forms, Philosophers, and Key Ideas

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes on government roles, forms, philosophers, ideas, and political concepts.

Maintaining law and order

The government creates and enforces laws to keep society safe, prevent crime, and ensure people follow rules.

Providing public services

Governments provide essential services like schools, hospitals, roads, water, and emergency services that help people live and work.

Protecting national security

Governments defend the country from threats from other nations or groups, keeping citizens safe from attacks or invasions.

Regulating the economy

Governments manage money, taxes, trade, and businesses to keep the economy stable and ensure fairness.

Protecting individual rights

Governments make sure that people’s freedoms, such as speech, religion, and privacy, are protected and respected.

Democracy

A system of government where citizens vote to choose their leaders and have a voice in decision-making, often through elections and laws.

Autocracy

A system where a single person has complete control over the government and makes all important decisions without input from citizens.

Monarchy

A system ruled by a king or queen, usually inheriting power from family members; the monarch may have full control or share power with other institutions.

Oligarchy

A government where a small group of powerful people, often wealthy or elite, make decisions for the entire country.

Socialism/Communism

Systems where the government controls resources and industries to share wealth more equally among citizens, often limiting private ownership.

John Locke

English philosopher who believed people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that governments exist to protect these rights.

Thomas Hobbes

English philosopher who thought humans are naturally selfish and violent, so they need a strong ruler or government to maintain order.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

French philosopher who believed people are naturally good but corrupted by society; he supported the social contract and majority rule for the common good.

Charles Montesquieu

French thinker who argued for separation of powers in government (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent abuse of power.

Voltaire

French philosopher who championed freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to criticize government and society.

Mary Wollstonecraft

English writer who advocated for women’s rights, especially education, arguing women should have equal opportunities as men.

Olympe de Gouges

French activist who wrote about women’s equality and rights during the French Revolution, including a declaration of women’s rights.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Italian political thinker who wrote The Prince, arguing rulers should use any means necessary, including deceit or force, to maintain power.

Alexis de Tocqueville

French writer who studied American democracy; praised its equality and freedoms but warned about the danger of majority rule overpowering minority rights.

Social Contract

An agreement in which people give up some personal freedom in exchange for government protection and order.

Natural Rights

Rights that every person is born with, such as life, liberty, and property, which governments are supposed to protect.

Rule of Law

The principle that everyone, including leaders, must follow the law and no one is above it.

Constitution

A written document that outlines the structure, rules, and powers of a government and protects citizens’ rights.

Sovereignty

The ability of a country to govern itself independently without interference from other nations.

Conservative

Believes in maintaining traditional values, limiting government power, and making changes slowly.

Liberal

Believes in equality, social progress, and an active government that helps solve societal problems.

Moderate

Holds political beliefs that are between conservative and liberal, often seeking compromise and balance.