Foundations of American Government
government: institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the people
nation: sizable group of people, united by bonds of race, language, customs/traditions, religion
state/country: political community, occupies a definite territory,organized gov., sovereignty
sovereignty: supreme power within its own power
evolutionary theory: head of family = head of state
force theory: state created by force
divine right theory: gods/God choose a ruler
social construct theory: people have a “contract” with the government
unitary: central/national gov. with all key powers
confederacy: a loose union of independent states
federal power: divided between national/state/local govs.
authoritarian/totalitarian: gov. controls all political/economic/social lives of its citizens
dictatorship: one person has control
oligarchy: small group has control
monarchy: king/queen/emperor rules
democracy: ruled by the people either directly or indirectly
government: institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the people
nation: sizable group of people, united by bonds of race, language, customs/traditions, religion
state/country: political community, occupies a definite territory,organized gov., sovereignty
sovereignty: supreme power within its own power
evolutionary theory: head of family = head of state
force theory: state created by force
divine right theory: gods/God choose a ruler
social construct theory: people have a “contract” with the government
unitary: central/national gov. with all key powers
confederacy: a loose union of independent states
federal power: divided between national/state/local govs.
authoritarian/totalitarian: gov. controls all political/economic/social lives of its citizens
dictatorship: one person has control
oligarchy: small group has control
monarchy: king/queen/emperor rules
democracy: ruled by the people either directly or indirectly