Autocracy
A system of government where an individual hold ultimate authority and is not held responsible for the government actions.
Democracy
A political system where the supreme political authority rests with the people and the majority.
Due process
A guarantee against the government arbitrarily taking life, liberty, or property without legal process being used.
Oligarchy
A government system where a small group of leaders make decisions for the government that often benefit themselves, their business, or their family.
Separation of powers
A form of a check and balance on governmental power that takes the basic powers of governing and divides it among different levels of the government and different branches of the government.
Theocracy
A system of government where the laws and policies are based on religious laws and customs.
Monarchy
A system of government which was a result of feudalism, emergence of merchants, and is sustained by the cult of personality, rule of law, or divine right.
Constitutional republic
An idea of government of, by, and for the people which is written down to guarantee it is applied correctly.
Checks and balances
Distributed power between the three branches of our government.
Republicanism
Power given to the government through the Constitution which is exercised by the popularly elected leaders chosen by the people.
Individual rights
Rights that belong to you simply because you are a human being.
Representative
A system of government where everyone is equal before the law and a majority of the voters elect representatives to the government.
Federalism
A system of government in which a written constitution divides the powers of the government between a central government and state governments.
Limited government
The idea that the government is subject to, never above, the law.
Consent of the governed
Those people who give their permission to the representatives they elect to govern on their behalf.
Legitimacy
the belief of the people that a government has the right to make public policy
Majority Rule
the principle that the majority of the people will be right more often than they will be wrong, and will be right more often than will any one person or small group
Citizen
a member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to it by birth or naturalization and is entitled to full civil rights
Northwest Ordinance
a document created in 1787 under the Articles of Confederation Congress that established a government for the Northwest Territory, explained the steps for admitting new states to the Union, and included a bill of rights
Articles of Confederation
plan of government adopted by the Continental Congress after the American Revolution; established “a firm league of friendship” among the States but allowed few important powers to the Federal Government
Common Sense
a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from Great Britain
Consent of the governed
the idea that government gains its power/authority from the people
Natural Rights/Individual Rights
rights an individual is born with that cannot be given or taken by government (ex. life, liberty, pursuit of happiness); also known as inalienable/unalienable rights
Rule of Law
concept that the government and its officers are always subject to the law
Self-Evident truth
a truth that is so obvious that it does not require proof or explanation
Separation of Powers
basic principle of American system of government that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government
Popular Sovereignty
a government that exists only with the consent of the governed
Social Contract
an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government
Mayflower Compact
an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620
English Bill of Rights
document written by Parliament and agreed to by William and Mary of England in 1689, designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; forms the basis for much in American government and politics today
Constitution of Massachusetts
the world’s oldest functioning written constitution; served as a model for the United States Constitution
Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments to the Constitution