Unit 2- Structure and Functions of Government

Magna Carta

Document signed by King John of England 1215 that limited the power of the monarch for the first time. It recognized basic rights and freedoms for nobles and freeman that later formed the basis of the US Bill of Rights.

Declaration of Independence

Document that seperated the American colonies from Great Britain. Written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson.

Checks and Balances

Each branch of government exercises some control over the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

Federal System

A system of government in which power is shared national and state governments. National governmnet tend to make decisions on national issues; while state governments make decisions on local issues.

Presidential Democracy

A type of democracy in which a president heads the executive branch and there is a sepreate legislative branch

Parliamentary Democracy

A type of democracy in which executive and legislative functions both reside in an elected assembly or parliament

Oligarchy

A type of government in which a small group of people holds power and makes all the decisions.

Representative Democracy

A type of government in which the people elect leaders (representatives) to make descisions for them

Limited Government

A type of government that has limits to his power (there are the things the government is not allowed to do) and is accountable to the people. The opposite of an authoritarian government.

Majority Rule (with Minority Rights)

Government decisons are based on what the majority of the people want. However, the government must ensure that the rights of the minority are protected

Limited Government

Governmetn cannot do certain things. There are limits to its power. The opposite of an authoritarian government.

Rule of Law

The belief that every person is expected to obey the same laws and regulations, and that no one, not even a government official, is above those laws and regulations

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The case that gave the supreme court the power of judicial review

General Welfare

The concern of the government for the health, peace, morality, and safety of its citizens. Providing for the welfare of the general public is a basic goal of government

Separation of Powers

The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Articles of Confederation

The first government of the United States , Approved in 1781. It had some successes, but was very weak. It was replaced by the Constitution in 1789.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Mayflower Compact

The first written governing document in what became the United States. Signed in 1620

Consent of the governed

The government gets its right to govern from the people

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to review laws and actions of the government and declare them unconstitutional (illegal)

The US Constitution

The written plan that establishes our government and its limitations and procedures

Dictatorship

a type of governent in which a leader has unlimited power. The leader gains and keeps power through the threat or use of force.

Absolute Monarchy

a type of government in which a monarch (usually a king or queen) rules and has total power with little or no restrictions

Constitutional Monarchy

a type of government in which a monarch (usually a king or queen) rulesbut has limitations of their power

Direct Democracy

a type of government in which the people directly vote on all laws and issues. Everyone votes on everything

Democracy

a type of government in which the people rule either directly or through electing representatives

Authoritarian

a type of government that has unlimited power and is not accountable to the people

McDonals V. Chicago (2010)

found that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" as protected under the second amendment, is incorporatedby the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the states

Denied powers

powers that are not allowed either national or state governments

Reseverved Powers

powers that belong strictly to the states

Concurrent powers

powers that both the national and state government have

Delegated powers

powers that the constitution grants or delegatesspecifically to the national government

Ratification

the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.

Government

the group of people with the authority to govern or rule a country or state

Individual Rights and Responsibilities

the liberties of each individual to pursue life and goals without interference from other individuals or the government. Examples of individual rights include the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as stated in the US Declaration of Independence.

Sovereignty

the power of a country to control its own government

Authority

the right to control or direct the actions of others, legitimized by law, morality, custom, or consent

Amendment

A change to the Constitution

English Bill of Rights of 1689

A document that established limitations on the English King's power from which which the United States later adopted concepts of limited govenment

Popular Sovereignty

Rule by the people: they are the source of governments's power

Federalism

System of government in which the power is divided between the national and state governments