Unit 1: Foundations of government

Ratified

Approved

English Bill of Rights

a 1689 document that guaranteed the rights of English citizens; this document set clear limits on what a ruler could and could not do

Parliamentary Democracy

a form of government in which executive and legislative functions both reside in an elected assembly, or parliament; parliament selects the leader.

consensus

a general agreement about something

Direct Democracy

a government in which citizens rule directly rather than through representatives

Political Party

a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, & determine public policy

Nation

a large area of land that is controlled by its own government; also like a country

Confederation

a loose union of independent states

Preamble

a statement in a Constitution that sets forth the goals and purposes to be served by the government

Oligarchy

a system of government in which a small group holds power

Autocracy

a system of government in which the power and authority to rule are in the hands of a single individual

Totalitarian Dictatorship

a type of autocracy in which the ideas of a single leader are glorified

Unitary System

all key powers belong to the national or central government

Monarchy

another form of autocracy where there is a King, Queen, or Emperor who exercises the supreme powers of the government; monarchs usually inherit their positions

Democracy

any system of government in which rule is by the people

Absolute Monarchs they

have complete and unlimited power to rule their people

Stamp Act of 1765

imposed the first direct tax on the colonists and required them to pay a tax on legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, and even dice and playing cards

Constitutional Law

involves the interpretation and application of the Constitution

Industrialized Nations

nations that have generally large industries and advanced technology that provide a comfortable way of life

Unicameral

one house of Congress

Representative Democracy

people elect representatives and give them the responsibility and power to make laws and conduct government

Federal System

powers are divided between the national government and state governments

Albany Plan of Union

proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754; it was an innovative plan for uniting the colonies but was rejected by the colonies

Mayflower Compact

signed in 1620 by the pilgrims and stands as the first example of many colonial plans for self government

Politics

the effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of the government

Great Fundamentals

the first basic system of laws in the English colonies adopted in 1636

Government

the institution through which the state maintains social order, provides social services, and enforces decisions that are binding on all people living within the state

Divine Right

the notion that a god or gods have chosen certain people to rule

Sovereignty

the state has supreme and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries

Proletariat

the workers, or those who produce the goods, under the theory of Karl Marx

Social Contract

theory that by contract, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens

Constitutional Monarchs

these monarchs share governmental powers with elected legislatures or serve mainly as the ceremonial head of government

Developing Nations

these nations are only beginning to develop industrially

Bourgeoisie

those who own the means of production, also known as capitalists under Karl Marx' theory

Bicameral

two houses of Congress

Republic

voters are the source of the government's authority in which elected representatives make the decisions

Constitution

A plan that provides the rules for government

Presidential Democracy

A form of government in which the citizens directly elect a president

Petition of Right

King Charles I was forced to sign this document in 1628 - it severely limited the King's power. The monarch could not collect taxes without Parliament's consent, it could not imprison people without just cause, and could not house troops in homes without permission of the owner. 1628

Magna Carta(also known as "The Great Charter")

King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 - the basis for the document was that the power of the monarch was not absolute and was limited