Topic One: Foundation of Government and Citizenship

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Public Policy

All of the many goals that a government pursues in all of the many areas of human affairs in which it is involved

Precedents

Court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases.

Legislative Power

The power to make laws and to frame public policies

Executive Power

The power to execute, enforce, and administer laws

Judicial Power

The power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within society

Dictatorship

Form of government where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people

Absolute Monarchy

A monarch recognized as the strongest individual who could best govern a state and protect the people from harm. The monarch now had the right to make laws for the entire nation and all its people

Constitution

A body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. The framework of a government.

Democracy

Form of government where supreme authority rests with the people

Republic

Form of government where the sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, while political power is exercised by representatives chosen by and held responsible to those citizens.

Aristotle

Greek philosopher who viewed the lives of individual humans as linked in social context. He wrote about the various types of government and the obligations of the individual citizen

Politics

The making of agreements between people so that they can live together in groups such as tribes, cities, or countries. In large groups, such as countries, some people may spend a lot of their time making such agreements.

State

A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (that is, with a government), and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent, of any higher authority

Nation

A large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory

Sovereignty

Utmost authority in decision making and in maintaining order of a state

Thomas Hobbes

English Philosopher who felt that people and nations were in a constant battle for power and wealth. He thought that an absolute monarchy was the best government for England. He distrusted democracy, but thought that authorized representatives as the voice of the people would prevent a monarch from being unfair or cruel

John Locke

English philosopher who wrote about his theories concerning the natural rights of man, the social contract, the separation of the church and state, religious freedom, and liberty. Locke’s theories influenced the American and French Revolutions

Divine Right Theory

The belief that God grants authority to those in power and that he put them there for a reason

Force Theory

The belief that the state was born to force. They hold that one person or a small group claimed control and forced all within it to submit to that person’s or groups rule

Evolutionary Theory

The natural development of the state out of early family. The primitive family, of which one person was the head of the “government” was the first stage. Over time the family branches off and makes a “clan” and then “tribe”, and then turning to agriculture instead of nomadism and therefore becoming a state

Social Contract Theory

People agreed with one another to create a state. People within a given area agreed to give up to the state as much power as was needed to promote the safety and well being of all.

Liberty

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views

General Welfare

The concern of the government for the health, peace, and safety of its citizens

Patriotism

The quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country