Unit 1 Government Vocab
Declaration of Independence
Document that separated 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 government tends 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 separate legislative branch.
Parliamentary Democracy
A type of democracy in which executive and legislative functions both reside in an elected assembly or parliament.
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) rules, but has limitations on their power.
Dictatorship
A type of government in which a single leader has unlimited power. The leader gains and keeps power through the threat or use of force.
Oligarchy
A type of government in which a small group of people holds power and makes all the decisions.
Direct Democracy
A type of government in which the people directly vote on all law and issues. Everyone votes on everything.
Representative Democracy
A type of government in which the people elect leaders (representatives) to make decisions for them.
Democracy
A type of government in which the people rule, either directly or through electing representatives.
Limited Government
A type of government that has limits to its power (there are things the government is not allowed to do) and is accountable to the people. The opposite of an authoritarian government.
Authoritarian
A type of government that has unlimited power and is not accountable to the people.
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Found that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms," as protected under the Second Amendment, is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the states.
Limited Government
Government cannot do certain things. There are limits to its power. The opposite of an authoritarian government.
Majority Rule (with Minority Rights)
Government decisions are based on what the majority of the people want. However, the government must ensure that the rights of the minority are protected.
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.
Consent of the Governed
The government gets its right to govern from the people.
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 the pursuit of happiness as stated in the United States Declaration of Independence
Sovereignty
The power of a country to control its own government.
Judicial Review
The power of the Supreme Court to review laws and actions of the government and declare them unconstitutional (illegal).
Authority
The right to control or direct the actions of others, legitimized by law, morality, custom or consent.
The US Constitution
The written plan that establishes our government and its limitations and procedures.
Ratification
the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid
Amendment
A change to the Constitution
Denied Powers
Powers that are not allowed either national or state governments.
Reserved 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 delegates specifically to the national government.
Popular Sovereignty
Rule by the people; they are the source of government's power.
Federalism
System of government in which the power is divided between national and state governments.
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.