Government Chapter 1 Vocabulary Terms PDF

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Chapter 1: Foundations of Government Key Vocabulary Terms Section 1 Key Terms: 1.

government - the formal structures and institutions through which decisions are made for a body of people

2.

power - the government’s authority and ability to get things done

3.

policy - any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular goal

4.

state - a political community made up by a group of people that lives within a clearly defined territory

5.

sovereignty - the supreme power of the state to act within its territory

6.

politics - the process by which government makes and carries out decisions as to whose interests will be served in society

7.

legitimacy - when rulers are seen as right and proper by important segments of a nation’s population

8.

divine right of kings - a theory put forth by Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet that the king is answerable only to God, not the people he ruled

9.

social contract theory - a theory of rule that says the first governments formed as a result of people agreeing among themselves to submit to the authority of a state, which in turn would protect and support them

Section 2 Key Terms: 10. monarchy a system of government headed by one person, such as a king or queen, who exercises absolute authority 11. dictatorship a system of rule in which one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can hold unlimited power over government 12. oligarchy a dictatorship led by a small group of people; means “rule by a few” 13. direct democracy a system of government in which citizens meet regularly in a popular assembly to discuss issues and vote for leaders 14. republic an indirect form of democracy that places political decision making at least one step away from the people; instead, people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf 15. unitary system a system of government in which sovereignty, or ultimate authority, rests in a single national government 16. federal system a system of government in which power over people and territory is divided between a national government and smaller, regional levels of government 17. confederal system a system of government in which a confederation of independent states form a central government to pursue common interests 18. presidential system a system of government distinguished by having a president who is elected by the people for a limited term of office 19. parliamentary system a system of government in which the legislative and executive branches are combined

Section 3 Key Terms: 20. ideal a conception of something in its most perfect form

21. liberty the ability of people to act and think as they choose, as long as their choices do no harm to the liberty or well-being of others 22. equality the principle that all people possess a fundamental, moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment under the law and equal opportunity in all aspects of life 23. self-government the belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and do so as political equals 24. majority rule a decision-making system in which the candidate who receives more than half the votes cast, or more votes than any other candidate, wins the election 25. minority rights the political rights held by groups who make up less than half of the population 26. liberal democracy a form of democracy that protects the rights of the minority 27. free enterprise an economic system in which people and businesses make their own choices about how best to produce, distribute, and exchange goods and services, with limited interference from the government...