AP Government [Vocab]- Democracy

Classical Liberalism

argues the main purpose of government is to protect and optimize individual freedom

Limited Government

Government where the law puts clear restrictions on the government

Rule of Law

Wherein the law is more powerful than any aspect of government

“The law is the King”

Direct Democracy

A system of government where citizens directly vote for laws

Oligarchy

System of government where a small group determines the law

Republic

System of government where citizens choose a small group that represents them in terms of creating laws

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Popular Sovereignty

principle that the leaders of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people

Liberal Democracy

form of government that combines the structure of a representative democracy with classical liberal philosophy

Consent of the Governed

People must be the ultimate authority, authorizing the power and existence of government

Minority Rights

Rights to life, liberty, and property must be maintained, even if a group lacks a majority

State of Nature

A state of pure freedom without government

Natural Rights

Nature-born right to life, freedom, and the ability to create

Law of Nature

The Law that states that everyone is entitled to their own freedoms and therefore obligated to protect others’ freedoms as well

Social Contract

Giving away partial freedoms under governance in exchange for insurance on the protection of ones’ freedoms