us gov vocab

Government

The system or group of people governing an organized community, often a state.

Public Policies

The government's effort to address issues and achieve social and economic goals

ex: medicaid

Legislative Power

The authority to make laws and enact policies.

Judicial Power

The authority to interpret laws and administer justice.

Executive Power

The authority to enforce laws and administer the government.

Dictatorship

A form of government in which a single person or party has absolute power.

Democracy

A system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives.

State

A politically organized body of people under a single government.

Sovereign

A supreme ruler or authority, often referring to a state that governs itself.

John Locke

An English philosopher known for his contributions to liberal political theory and the concept of the social contract.

Thomas Hobbes

An English philosopher known for his work on political philosophy, particularly the social contract and the necessity of a strong central authority.

Autocracy

A system of government in which one person possesses unlimited power.

Oligarchy

A form of power structure in which power resides in the hands of a small number of people.

Unitary Government

A system of government in which all powers are held by a single central authority.

Federal Government

composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial,

Division of Powers

The allocation of authority and responsibilities among different branches of government.

Confederation

An alliance of independent states or groups that work together for a common purpose.

Presidential Government

a president is elected as head of state and government, leading the executive branch

Parliamentary Government

legislative and executive powers combine, parliament elects new head of government called the prime minister

Feudalism

A social system prevalent in medieval Europe, where land was held in exchange for service or labor.

Divine Rights of Kings

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Majority Rule

A decision-making principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

Compromise

An agreement reached by mutual concession.

Free Enterprise System

businesses have the freedom to make their own decisions about what to produce and how much they wanna produce, etc.

Limited Government

government is restricted by law

ex: separation of powers

Representative Government

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Magna Carta

A charter agreed to by King John of England in 1215, establishing the principle that everyone is subject to the law.

English Bill of Rights

An act passed by Parliament in 1689 that limited the powers of the monarchy and outlined the rights of Parliament and individuals.

Charter

a document granted to a cooperation or individual: ex the magna carta

Bicameral

A legislative body that has two chambers or houses.

Unicameral

A legislative body that has a single chamber.

Albany Plan of Union

A proposal by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Thomas Jefferson

An American Founding Father, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a weak federal government.

Ratification

The official approval of a proposed law or amendment, typically requiring a vote.

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 led by Daniel Shays, protesting economic injustices and the lack of government response.