AP GOV

Government - The rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking.

Politics - The process of influencing the actions and policies of government.

Natural rights - The right to life, liberty, and property which the government cannot take away.

Social Contract (John Locke) - The people agree to follow or be ruled by the government if the government protects the people’s independent rights. If the government does not, the people have the right to overthrow the government and create a new one.

Popular sovereignty - The idea that the government’s right to rule from the people.

Democracy - A system of government where power is held by the people.

American political culture - The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share.

Republicanism - A system in which the government’s authority comes from the people.

Unalienable rights - Rights the government cannot take away.

Liberty - Social, political, and economic freedoms.

Sovereignty- The ability for a country to govern itself as well as maintaining its borders.

Public Policy - Any action the government takes on an issue.

Direct Democracy - Everybody votes on all public policy and the majority wins, minority never wins.
Indirect Democracy - From of democracy where people vote for other representatives to make public policy.

Confederalism- A form of government wherein there are two levels of government: central and regional, Regional has more power over Central.
Republic - Democracy, but executive is also elected seperately.
Federal Republic - Same as republic, but supremacy of regional government is in the central government.