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Unit 1 Vocab
N/A
29
Political Studies
10th Grade
08/21/2013

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Term
Unitary System
Definition
central govt. gives power to non central govts
Term
Federal System
Definition
Divides power between national and lower level govts.
Each govt. has distinct powers that the other cannot overrride
Term
Confederate System
Definition
Power is retained by local or regional governments
Term
Autocracy
Definition
Form of govt. where power resides in one individual
Term
Anarchy
Definition
The total absence of govt. Usually results in chaos and radical group tends to take over.
Term
Oligarchy
Definition
Form of govt. where a small group holds power
Term
government
Definition
a collective of individuals and institutions, the formal vehicles through which policies are made and affairs of the state are conducted
Term
citizen
Definition
member of the political community to whom certain rights and obligations are attached
Term
politics
Definition
the study of who gets what, when, and how- or how policy decisions are made
Term
monarchy
Definition
A form of govt. in which power is vested in hereditary kings and queens who govern in the interests of all
Term
totalitarianism
Definition
an economic system in which the govt. has total control over the economy
Term
democracy
Definition
system of govt. that gives power to the people, whether directly or through their elected representations
Term
social contract
Definition
an agreement between the people and their govts. signifying the consent to be governed
Term
social contract theory
Definition
the belei that people are free and equal by God-given right and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by John Locke and influential in writing the declaration of independance
Term
direct democracy
Definition
system of govt. in which members of the polity meet to discuss all policy decisions and then agree to abide by majority rule
Term
indirect (representative) democracy
Definition
system of govt. that gives citizens the opportunity to vote for representatives who will work on their behalf
Term
republic
Definition
a govt. rooted in the consent of the governed; representative or indirect democracy
Term
political culture
Definition
commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how govts. should operate.
Term
political liberty
Definition
key characteristic of the US democracy. Initially meaning freedom from governmental interference, today it includes the demands for freedom to engage in a variety of practices free from governmental discrimination
Term
popular consent
Definition
the idea that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed
Term
majority rule
Definition
the central premise of direct democracy in which only policies that collectively garner the support of a majority of voters will be made into law.
Term
popular sovereugnty
Definition
the right of the majority to govern themselves
Term
natural law
Definition
a doctrine that society should be governed by a certain ethical principles that are part of nature and, as such, can be understood by reason
Term
civil society
Definition
society created when citizens are allowed to organize and express their views publicly as they engage in an open debate about public policy
Term
political ideology
Definition
the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals
Term
conservative
Definition
one thought to believe that a government is best that governs least and that a larger government will infringe on individual, personal, and economic rights
Term
liberal
Definition
one considered to favor extensive governmental involvement in the economy and the provision of social services to take an activist role in protecting the rights of women, the elderly, minorities, and the environment. they tend to argue with accusations instead of facts.
Term
libertarian
Definition
one who favors a free market and little govt. interference in personal liberties
Term
american dream
Definition
an american ideal of a happy, successful life, which often includes, wealth, a house, a better life for one's children, and for some, the ability to grow up to be president.
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