Foundations of Government and Citizenship Flashcards
(39 cards)
government
the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
public policies
all of those things a government decides to do examples include taxation, defense, edu, crime, and health care
legislative power
the power to make laws and to frame public policies
executive power
the power to execute, enforce, and administer laws
judicial power
the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise with in the society
dictatorship
In this form of government, those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people.
democracy
supreme authority rests with the people.
Aristotle
observed that “man is by nature a political animal.
state
a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (that is, with a government), and with the power to make and enforce law
without the consent of any higher authority.
sovereign
it has supreme and absolute power within its own
territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies.
4 origins of the state
- Force theory
- Divine rights of kings theory
- Evolutionary theory
- Social contract theory
Abraham Lincoln
Gave immortality to the defenition of democracy
Autocracy
A single person holds unlimited political power
Oligarchy
Government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite
Unitary government
All powers held by the government
three classifications
- who can participate
- Geographic distribution of power
- Legislative and executive branches
federal government
one in which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments.
division of powers
cannot be changed by either the local or national level acting alone. Both
levels of government act directly on the people through their own sets of laws, officials, and agencies.
confederation
an alliance of independent states.
presidential government
a system of shared powers in which the executive and legislative branches have separate powers.
parliamentary government
the executive branch is made up of the prime minister or premier, and that official’s cabinet. prime minister is chosen by legislative branch. must work togther.
preamble
- form a more perfect union
- establish justice
- insure domestic tranquility
- provide for the common defense
- promote the general welfare
- secure the blessing of liberty and posterity
5 foundations of democracy
- fundamental worth
- equality of persons
- majority rule and minority rights
- necessity of compromise
- individual freedom
fundamental worth
interests of a few are often subordinate to the well being of many