change, improvement, or addtition that is made to a law or docoument, or the process of doing this
Term
2 Aristocracy
Definition
A government in which power is in the hand of a hereditary ruling class or nobilty
Term
Checks and balances
Definition
from Montesquieu, a fundamental democratic principle of American government which ensures that one branch does not accumulate too much power
Term
Constitutionalism
Definition
the belief that a government should be based on a constitution
Term
Democracy
Definition
a system of government in which every citizen in the country can vote to elect its government officials
Term
Direct Democracy
Definition
A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives
Term
Executive
Definition
the part of government that makes sure decisions and laws work well
Term
Federalism
Definition
belief in or support for a federal system of government
Term
Indirect Democracy
Definition
Form of democracy in which individuals are represented by appointed representatives
Term
Judicial
Definition
relating to the law, judges, or their decisions
Term
Judicial review
Definition
Form of democracy in which individuals are represented by appointed representatives.
Term
Judicial
Definition
relating to the law, judges, or their decisions
Term
Legislative
Definition
an institution that has the power to make or change laws
Term
Limited power
Definition
a type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law
Term
Monarchy
Definition
A government ruled by a king or queen
Term
Oligarchy
Definition
a small group of people who run a country or organization, or a country that is run by a small group of people
Term
Popular Sovereignty
Definition
basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed (p 70)
Term
Preamble
Definition
a statement at the beginning of a book, document, or talk, explaining what it is about
Term
Ratify
Definition
Ratify
Term
Republic
Definition
A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
Term
Separation of powers
Definition
division of governmental authority among the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The US Constitution uses this principle in setting the presidency, the Congress, and the courts
Term
Tyranny
Definition
cruel or unfair control over other people and/or cruel and unfair governmen
Term
U.S. Bill of Rights
Definition
a written statement of the most important rights of the citizens of a country, part of the U.S. Constitutio
a written statement of the most important rights of the citizens of a country, part of the U.S. Constitution
a written statement of the most important rights of the citizens of a country, part of the U.S. Constitut
