Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Chapter 1
defining government - first test
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| government | the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies - maintaining order, provide leadership, public services, national security, economic assistance |
| public policies | things a government wants to do (education, military, human services, crime, etc). |
| power | ability to achieve desired goals |
| legislative branch (congress) | ability to make laws |
| executive branch (president) | enforces/administers laws |
| judicial branch (supreme court) | interpret law |
| separation of power | constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government |
| constitution | sets forth structure/process of government |
| politics | process used to decide how power/resources are divided |
| democracy | power exercised at will of majority (voting), varying forms |
| representative democracy | a form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern, exists in the u.s. (republic) |
| dictatorship | power rests with a single person |
| oligarchy | power with a few/small group - wealth, military position |
| military dictatorship | high rank official or military group has all power |
| authoritarian | government controls all aspects of life |
| monarchy | power rests with one person (king/queen), based on ruling family/religion |
| the state | most dominant political movement |
| nation | a politically organized body of people under a single government - ethnic term |
| country | geographic area of land that is politically controlled by one government |
| what are the four characteristic of a NATION state? | population, territory, sovereignty, government |
| sovereign | absolute power within state - u.s. is sovereign, states within are not |
| state of nature (recognition) | fifth unofficial characteristic of government that exists when their is no government, viewed unrecognizable as a nation to some |
| force theory | person or group claim control and force people to follow |
| evolution theory | developed naturally from families - agriculture ends nomadic lives |
| nomadic life | moving from one place to another rather than living in one set place - i.e. hunter-gatherers |
| divine right theory | asserted that kings derived their authority from God - ruler by brith right, not following would be not following God |
| social contract theory | people gave power to rule/promote safety, people can give or withhold powers, promotes popular sovereignty, limited government, and individual rights - give up "state of nature" to enjoy protections of government |
| first goal of the preamble | "in order to form a more perfect union" - strengthen national government |
| second goal of the preamble | "establish justice" - equal/just laws for all |
| third goal of the preamble | "ensure domestic tranquility" - keeping peace at home |
| fourth goal of the preamble | "provide for the common defense" - keeping country safe...military, department of homeland security |
| fifth goal of the preamble | "promote the general welfare" - well being of citizens |
| sixth goal of the preamble | "secure the blessings of liberty" - individual freedoms |
| unitary government | central government holds most power...gives power to local government - not necessarily a dictatorship advantage: quick national response to national issues disadvantage: detachment from local needs |
| federal government | powers shared between central and local government...seen in u.s. advantage: balance of power, more national support disadvantage: states and national government might clash, blurred lines |
| u.s. under article of confederation | u.s. existed as confederate government - states have more power than national government advantage: local government has more power, people have more of a say disadvantage: potential corruption, too much power, national issues not dealt with |
| duties of citizenship (musts) | serving on a jury, paying taxes, obeying laws, respecting the rights of others - controversial (selective service) |
| responsibilities (should) | voting, volunteering, understanding how government works |
| free enterprise system | private ownership of goods, private investments, success/failure determined by market - capitalism |
| mixed economy | capitalist and social elements - government regulations (minimum wage) |
| command economy | government makes all economic decisions - communism |
| direct democracy | all laws and policies imposed by governments are determined by the people themselves, rather than by representatives who are elected by the people |
| indirect democracy (representative democracy) | citizens elect representatives to make laws on their behalf |
| WRITING PORTION TEST QUESTION: downfalls of the republican form of government | - can be expensive to operate (adverse effect in poorer countries) - works best in small communities, - republican people ideally cannot be diverse from one another, - elected representatives known to break promises/misuse trust |
Created by:
jaynahiwen
Popular American Government sets