Unit 1: Founding Documents and Fundamental Principles

Flashcards covering key foundational terms related to civics, law, and government structure.

Custom

Rules of Behavior

Precedent

Decisions made in the past (for example, by a court) that are used to guide present and future decisions

Constitution

A basic set of principles, laws, and rules for a country or group

Grievances

A complaint or problem

Unalienable

Something that cannot be taken away

Declaration

A clear statement or announcement

Statute

A law

Charter

A document that says what people can and can’t do

Affirm

To say something is a fact

Amendment

A change (examples changes to the Constitution)

Central Government

A government that makes decisions for the whole country or nation

Independence

Freedom

Fundamental

Definition: Serving as a foundation or source or origin

My words: something everything else is built from

Principle

A basic truth or fundamental law

Limited Government

The government can only do the things that people give it the power to do. Government’s power is not unlimited!

Democracy

A system of government where the people rule

Direct Democracy

Every citizen votes directly on every issue

Republicanism (Representative Democracy)

A government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions, laws, and run the government for them (on their behalf)

Majority Rule

The government must do what the majority of people vote for.

Popular Sovereignty (Consent of the Governed)

All power in government comes from the permission of the people; the people give power and authority to the government, in return for protection of their rights.

Rule of Law

Everyone must obey the law, including government officials.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between the central government and the states.

Separation of Powers

Dividing governments into branches with different powers so that no one branch becomes too powerful

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to change or reject things that other branches do to stop them from getting too much power