| A | B |
|---|
| Republican Government | Supreme political power resides with the people, people elect officials |
| Constitutional Government | powers of the ruler/leaders are limited by the Constitution, which they must obey |
| Government | an organization responsible for making laws, enforcing laws, and interpreting laws. |
| Absolute Power | Power without limits. |
| State of Nature | No government, no laws |
| Natural Rights | Rights of all people including life, liberty and property. |
| Social Contract | When people give up some freedoms in exchange for laws that will protect them. |
| Benefits of Government | Personal, Social, Economic |
| Personal Benefits of Government | Protects personal property, safety, and rights. |
| Social Benefits of Government | Maintains order, protects health and safety, prevents grouops from taking advantage of other, and provides education. |
| Economic Benefits of Government | Maintains a system of exchange of goods and services. |
| Authoritarian Government | A type of government where one or a few people in a country make the laws and govern the citizens. |
| Democratic Government | A type of government where many of the citizens in a country make laws and govern themselves, either directly or through representatives. |
| Branches of Government | Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches |
| Executive Branch of Government | Enforces laws |
| Legislative Branch of Government | Makes laws |
| Judicial Branch of Government | Interprets laws |
| Confederation | A group of states with a limited central government. (states stronger than central government) |
| Sovereignty | The ultimate authority of the government |
| Federal System | A form of government where power is divided amongst central, state and local branches of government. |
| Authority | Right to govern |
| Civic Virtue | To put the community's welfare before your own welfare. |
| Constitution | A set of customs, traditions, rules and laws that describe the way a government is organized.. |
| Higher Law | a set of laws that are superior to other laws. |
| Shay's Rebellion | Daniel Shays led a group of angry Massachusetts farmers in an attemp to capture an arsenal. The plan was to attack courthouses that were foreclosing on farmland. The rebellion showed the weakness of the federal government and its inability to protect its' citizens. |
| Equal representation | Each state has the same number of representatives in Congress. |
| Proportional representation | Representation in Congress is based on the states |
| Three-fifths clause | slaves would count as 3/5 of a person when determining population for representation and taxation |
| Fugitive Slave Clause | all escaped slaves had to be returned to their owners. Federal offense for violating this law. |
| Impeach | to charge a public official with a crime |
| Supremacy clause | clause that states the Constitution and federal laws are superior to state laws. |
| Electoral College | the electors chosen by each state who cast the official vote for president after a presidential election |
| Enumerated powers | Powers that are specifically granted to Congress |
| Amend | to add or change |
| Ratify | approve |
| Repeal | remove an existing law |
| Petition | a formal document containing a request |
| Referendum | an opportunity for the people to vote to accept or reject a state or local law in the next election |
| Unconstitutional | against the principals of the Constitution |
| Separation of Power | the division of government powers into different branches i.e. Legislative, Executive and Judicial |
| Checks and Balances | – the sharing and balancing of power among the different branches of government so no one branch can dominate the others. |
| Responsibilities of Citizens | Serve on jury, serve as a witness, vote, obey laws, respect other's rights, pay taxes |
