| A | B |
|---|
| infrastructure | the physical systems that allow a country to function |
| public policy | the decisions and actions a government takes to solve its problems |
| nation | a group of people united by common bonds of race, custom, or religion |
| country | a political community with a defined geographic area and organized government |
| state | another word for country, or smaller political unit |
| violate | to go against |
| unitary system | a government in which the most important powers are held by the national government |
| confederal system | a loose union of independent states with only a few powers for the central government |
| federal system | a government that shares powers between national and state governments |
| constitution | a plan that establishes the rules for government |
| constitutional government | a government in which a constitution has the authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern |
| political philosophy | the study of how to distribute or limit political power |
| representative democracy | a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf |
| republicanism | commitment to a republican form of government in which citizens choose their lawmakers |
| arbitrarily | randomly, unreasonably |
| monarchy | form of government which has a king or queen |
| authoritarian regime | form of government in which one leader holds great power and is not accountable to the people |
| dictatorship | authoritarian form of government in which a leader has complete control over the state |
| ideology | a strict idea about life and society |
| oligarchy | a form of government run by a small group of people |
| democracy | rule by the people |
| direct democracy | a form of government in which the people vote firsthand |
| republic | a representative democracy in which citizens choose their lawmakers |
| law | set of rules and standards by which a society governs itself |
| legislature | a group of people that makes laws |
| precedent | a judge's ruling that is used as the basis for future decisions |
| social contract | an agreement among people in a society with their government |
| natural rights | freedoms people have because they are human beings |
| establish | to start something |
| indentured servant | a worker who contracted with American colonists for paid passage in exchange for their labor |
| dissenter | a person who opposes official views |
| economy | system for making choices about how to use scarce resources |
| cash crop | a crop produced mainly for sale |
| plantation | large agricultural estate |
| benefit | to be useful or profitable to |
| proclamation | an official public announcement |
| boycott | to refuse to purchase certain goods as an act of protest |
| repeal | to cancel a law |
| duty | tax on an imported good |
| delegate | representative to a meeting |
