| A | B |
|---|
| representative government | limited govt. with elected representatives serving at will of the people |
| federalism | distribution of the powers of the government between central (federal) govt. and regional (state) governments |
| popular sovereignty | power rests with the people who an create, alter, and abolish a government |
| republicanism | power is held by the people who elect representatives who work on their behalf |
| limited government | limits placed on the powers of the government, everyone including authority figures must obey the laws |
| checks and balances | each branch of the government shares its power and checks the power of the other two; it prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful |
| separation of powers | form of government organized in three branches |
| legislative branch | Congress; makes laws |
| executive branch | the President; enforces the laws |
| judicial branch | Supreme Court--judges whether laws are constitutional |
| Constitution | document that defines the government; restrains the powers of the govt. and guarantees certain right to the people |
| Articles of Confederation | First Government of United States from 1781-1788; weak national govt; nor army, no tax, no courts, no executive; more state power |
| Confederation | an alliance of states where states have the majority of the power |
