Midterm Definitions

Question 0

Social contract

Answer 0

government is formed by the consent of the governed

Question 1

Mayflower Compact

Answer 1

established a temporary govt for the pioneer community

Question 2

Divine right of kings

Answer 2

kings received their authority directly from God

Question 3

Fundamental order of Connecticut

Answer 3

the first written constitution in the new world, also outlined a more democratic government by not making a church membership a prerequisite for govt participation

Question 4

Great awakening

Answer 4

rekindling/revival of the spiritual life of the colonists

Question 5

Unalienable rights

Answer 5

a right that cannot be given by the government because they are not the governments to give; a gift of God

Question 6

Popular government

Answer 6

a govt system in which people/citizens participate

Question 7

Direct democracy

Answer 7

a government in which the people directly affect the govts policies and actions

Question 8

Republic

Answer 8

state in which the supreme owner rests in the people and their elected representatives or officers

Question 9

Dictatorship

Answer 9

the govt acting without the peoples consent or input

Question 10

Totalitarian

Answer 10

where the govt seeks to exercise control over every aspect of the peoples lives

Question 11

Autocracy

Answer 11

rule by one person with supreme authority

Question 12

Oligarchy

Answer 12

self-appointed group, dividing the governmental departments among themselves

Question 13

Anarchy

Answer 13

the absence of govt, state of lawlessness due to the absence or inefficiency of the supreme power

Question 14

Federalism

Answer 14

divides a nations power among national, regional, and local governments

Question 15

Confederate Government

Answer 15

government in which the regional govts retain supremacy and delegate few tasks to the national govt

Question 16

Presidential system

Answer 16

the people directly elect the president, the head of the executive branch, independently of the legislative branch

Question 17

Parliamentary system

Answer 17

legislative and executive branches are linked, and the people elect their representatives (members of parliament) by voting

Question 18

Delegated powers

Answer 18

powers that are given to the government by the constitution

Question 19

House of Representatives

Answer 19

the lower house of congress, representation depends on state population

Question 20

Senate

Answer 20

the higher house of congress, representation is equal for each state with two reps each

Question 21

President

Answer 21

the chief executive officer and head of the executive branch

Question 22

Supreme Court

Answer 22

the highest court of the land, and final judge for all questions concerning American laws

Question 23

Bicameral

Answer 23

the legislature has two separate houses

Question 24

Unicameral

Answer 24

the legislature is made up of one house

Question 25

Governor

Answer 25

the chief officer of the executive branch

Question 26

Townships

Answer 26

a political subdivision of a county

Question 27

Charter

Answer 27

gives a city it's name and acts as it's constitution

Question 28

Democracy

Answer 28

government by the people

Question 29

Due process

Answer 29

certain legal procedures must be enforced to protect the rights of the accused

Question 30

Bill of rights

Answer 30

the first ten amendments to the constitution

Question 31

Electoral college

Answer 31

each state has a number of electors equal to the states representation in Congress

Question 32

Majority rule

Answer 32

a numerical majority of the electorate makes decisions that are binding upon the entire electorate

Question 33

Pluralistic society

Answer 33

a society in which differing oppinions and parties exist freely

Question 34

Equality

Answer 34

political or legal equality; equality of justice and equality of franchise (vote)