American Government Bre W

Front 1

Articles Of Confederation

Back 1

The first government of the United States was
based on this, which was created in 1777.

Front 2

Bill Of Rights

Back 2

These are the first ten amendments to the U.S.
Constitution, generally directed at protecting the
individual from abuse of power by the national
government.

Front 3

Checks And Balances

Back 3

This is the system of overlapping powers among
judicial, executive, and legislative branches to allow
each branch to oversee the actions of the others

Front 4

Citizen

Back 4

This is a community member, by birth or by naturalization, who owes loyalty to the government and is entitled to the government's protection

Front 5

Confederation

Back 5

A group of provinces or states that come together under a common constitution. They differ from a federation in that they retain specific state or provincial rights.

Front 6

Constitution

Back 6

This is the system by which the main institutions of a nation's government are arranged and kept in place. It may be written down (as in the United States) or it may be unwritten (as in Great Britain).

Front 7

Declaration Of Independence

Back 7

This was an act passed by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 declaring the thirteen American Colonies independent of British rule.

Front 8

Democracy

Back 8

In this type of government, political and governmental power is held by the citizens of the country.

Front 9

Direct Democracy

Back 9

This is a system of government in which the people participate directly in making all public policy.

Front 10

Enlightenment

Back 10

This was an 18th century intellectual movement beginning in France.

Front 11

Executive

Back 11

This is the branch of government that is responsible for carrying out the laws.

Front 12

Federal Government

Back 12

This refers to the level of government responsible for printing money, funding the U.S. Armed Services, and much more.

Front 13

Federalism

Back 13

This system of government has powers divided between the central government and regional governments, with central government being supreme.

Front 14

Federalist Papers

Back 14

This was a series of Articles written to persuade New York to ratify the Constitution.

Front 15

Hobbes

Back 15

This was a series of Articles written to persuade New York to ratify the Constitution.

Front 16

Judicial

Back 16

This is the branch of government that is responsible for interpreting what the law means.

Front 17

Legislative

Back 17

This is the branch of government that creates and makes laws.

Front 18

Leviathan

Back 18

This is the name of Thomas Hobbes 1651 book that deals with the structure and nature of society and government, and which was an influence on John Locke and other Enlightenment-era philosophers.

Front 19

Limited Government

Back 19

This is a form of government in which the power to rule is significantly restrained by a strong Constitution or other document.

Front 20

Local Government

Back 20

This refers to the level of government responsible for things like police and fire protection, and is led by a mayor or council.

Front 21

Magna Carta

Back 21

This was the Great Charter of English liberty granted (under considerable duress) by King John at Runnymede on June 15, 1215.

Front 22

Majority Rule

Back 22

This is a basic rule of democracy: one more than half of all voting persons must approve for something to become law.

Front 23

Mayflower

Back 23

This was the famous ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.

Front 24

Mayflower Compact

Back 24

This was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony, signed by the Pilgrims in November of 1620.

Front 25

Montesquieu

Back 25

He was a French philosopher who developed a number of political theories in his Spirit of the Laws.

Front 26

Natural Rights

Back 26

This is a political theory that individuals have privileges that no government can deny.

Front 27

Patriotism

Back 27

This is a love for one's country.

Front 28

Popular Sovereignty

Back 28

This is the belief that the ultimate power of the government rests on the will of the people themselves.

Front 29

Representative Democracy

Back 29

This is a type of government in which the people give elected officials the authority to make laws and conduct government business.

Front 30

Representative Government

Back 30

This is a type of government in which the citizens elect government officials to make laws and run the government.

Front 31

Republic

Back 31

This is a form of government in which citizens elect leaders to run the government.

Front 32

Rousseau

Back 32

He was a French Enlightenment philosopher and author of The Social Contract, which became one of the most influential works of political philosophy in the Western tradition.

Front 33

Rule of Law

Back 33

This is the legal notion that the power of government is limited and restrained by legal means and is not at the mercy and whims of individuals.

Front 34

Rule of Man

Back 34

This political concept describes the political condition in which a single ruler or party exercises absolute authority and is not bound by any law.

Front 35

Second Treatise On Government

Back 35

This 1689 book by John Locke asserts that governments exist because of a "social contract theory" based on people's natural rights.

Front 36

Separation of Powers

Back 36

This is the Constitutional principle that the law making, executive, and judicial powers be held by different groups and people.

Front 37

Social Contract Theory

Back 37

This is an agreement between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each.

Front 38

Spirit of Laws

Back 38

This is the name of the 1748 book by Baron de Montesquieu in which he stresses a government's need to have a separation of power, support of the rule of law, and other Enlightenment-era ideals.

Front 39

Authoritorian

Back 39

A type of government in which one person or a
small group has absolute power, though may not be led by a charismatic leader with a specific or state mandated ideology.

Front 40

Autocratic

Back 40

This is a type of government in which power is held by a single, self-appointed ruler.

Front 41

Checks and Balances

Back 41

This is the system of overlapping powers among
judicial, executive, and legislative branches to allow `each branch to oversee the actions of the others.

Front 42

Communism

Back 42

This is an economic system proposed by Karl Marx in which all means of production are owned by the proletariat, but are controlled by the government when practiced by countries such as the Soviet Union and China.

Front 43

Confederacy

Back 43

This was the group of southern states that seceded from the United States from 1860-1865.

Front 44

Confederal

Back 44

This is a form of government in which the member regions form a loose association in order to create a nation, but by law they have more power than the national government.

Front 45

Confederation

Back 45

A group of provinces or states that come together under a common constitution. They differ from a federation in that they retain specific state or provincial rights.

Front 46

Conservative

Back 46

This political ideology is associated with the
Republican Party in the United States.

Front 47

Constitution

Back 47

This is the system by which the main institutions of a nation's government are arranged and kept in place. It may be written down (as in the United
States) or it may be unwritten (as in Great Britain).

Front 48

Constitutional Monarchy

Back 48

This is form of government in which a monarch is
the head of state but his or her powers are
restricted by law, usually within a parliamentary
system.

Front 49

Democracy

Back 49

In this type of government, political and
governmental power is held by the citizens of the
country.

Front 50

Democratic

Back 50

This political party was founded in the early 1800's and is now associated with political beliefs that lie to the left of center.

Front 51

Dictatorship

Back 51

A government in which absolute power is exercised by one ruler.

Front 52

Federalism

Back 52

This system of government has powers divided
between the central government and regional
governments, with central government being
supreme.

Front 53

Federation

Back 53

This is a type of government in which a group of
individual states are united under a strong, central government.

Front 54

Liberal

Back 54

This political ideology is associated with the
Democratic Party in the United States.

Front 55

Limited Gov.

Back 55

This is a form of government in which the power to rule is significantly restrained by a strong
Constitution or other document.

Front 56

Mass Media

Back 56

This is communication by the media on a large
scale.

Front 57

Media

Back 57

This is a general term that is used to describe all
forms of communication.

Front 58

Monarchy

Back 58

This is the form of government with one ruler, such as a king or queen.

Front 59

Parliament

Back 59

This is the name given to a legislative body- such
as that in Great Britain- that is usually led by a
Prime Minister.

Front 60

Parliamentary Democracy

Back 60

In this type of government, there is no clear-cut
separation of powers between the legislative and
executive branches, though the legislative has most of the governmental power.

Front 61

Political System

Back 61

This term refers to a nation's system of government
and the formal legal institutions that define that
government.

Front 62

Prime Minister

Back 62

This is the name given to the most senior member
of the majority party in a parliamentary system.

Front 63

Representative Democracy

Back 63

This is a type of government in which the people
give elected officials the authority to make laws and conduct government business.

Front 64

Republican

Back 64

This political party was founded in the mid-1800s
and is now associated with political beliefs that lie to the right of center.

Front 65

Rule of Law

Back 65

This is the legal notion that the power of
government is limited and restrained by legal
means and is not at the mercy and whims of
individuals.

Front 66

Socialism

Back 66

This is an economic system where the government controls the major means of production but property and other businesses may be privately
owned.

Front 67

Totalitarian

Back 67

This is a centralized government that does not
tolerate opposing political opinions.

Front 68

Unicameral

Back 68

This is the practice of having only one chamber in a legislature or a parliament.

Front 69

Unitary State

Back 69

In this type of government, the institutions of the
state are governed as a single unit, with one
constitutionally created legislature.

Front 70

Almanac

Back 70

This is publication produced annually that gives
information that is often related to seasons, phases of the moon, or the calendar.

Front 71

An Atlas

Back 71

This a collection of maps.

Front 72

Artifact

Back 72

This is any object manufactured, used, or modified by humans, having archaeological or historical importance.

Front 73

Autobiography

Back 73

This is a book written about the life of a person by that person.

Front 74

Bias

Back 74

This is an unwanted influence on a sample.

Front 75

Biography

Back 75

This is a book written about the life of a person.

Front 76

Checks and Balances

Back 76

This is the system of overlapping powers among judicial, executive, and legislative branches to allow each branch to oversee the actions of the others

Front 77

Consent of the Governed

Back 77

This is a condition of democracy; the government is based on the will of the people as expressed in elections.

Front 78

Declaration Of The Rights Of Man

Back 78

This is the name given to the document of the French Revolution that defined individual and governmental rights.

Front 79

Economics

Back 79

This is the social science dealing with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Front 80

Enlightenment

Back 80

This was an 18th century intellectual movement beginning in France.

Front 81

Federal Gov.

Back 81

This refers to the level of government responsible for printing money, funding the U.S. Armed Services, and much more.

Front 82

Federalism

Back 82

This system of government has powers divided between the central government and regional governments, with central government being supreme.

Front 83

Hobbes

Back 83

He was a 17th century English philosopher whose book "Leviathan" (1651) helped to clarify both the "social contract theory" of government.

Front 84

John Locke

Back 84

This was a British philosopher who argued that governments only purpose was to protect man's natural rights.

Front 85

Leviathan

Back 85

This is the name of Thomas Hobbes 1651 book that deals with the structure and nature of society and government, and which was an influence on John Locke and other Enlightenment-era philosophers.

Front 86

Limited Gov.

Back 86

This is a form of government in which the power to rule is significantly restrained by a strong Constitution or other document.

Front 87

Local Government

Back 87

This refers to the level of government responsible for things like police and fire protection, and is led by a mayor or council.

Front 88

Majority Rule

Back 88

This is a basic rule of democracy: one more than half of all voting persons must approve for something to become law.

Front 89

Montesquieu

Back 89

He was a French philosopher who developed a number of political theories in his Spirit of the Laws

Front 90

Natural Rights

Back 90

This is a political theory that individuals have privileges that no government can deny.

Front 91

Primary Source

Back 91

This is an original document or firsthand account.

Front 92

Republic

Back 92

This is a form of government in which citizens elect leaders to run the government.

Front 93

Rousseau

Back 93

He was a French Enlightenment philosopher and author of The Social Contract, which became one of the most influential works of political philosophy in the Western tradition.

Front 94

Secondary Source

Back 94

This is a commentary on an original document or firsthand account.

Front 95

Separation Of Powers

Back 95

This is the Constitutional principle that the law making, executive, and judicial powers be held by different groups and people.

Front 96

Social Contract Theory

Back 96

This is an agreement between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each.

Front 97

Spirit of Laws

Back 97

This is the name of the 1748 book by Baron de Montesquieu in which he stresses a government's need to have a separation of power, support of the rule of law, and other Enlightenment-era ideals.

Front 98

Unalienable Rights

Back 98

Rights stated in English Common Law and the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence. Commonly described as fundamental rights not given or taken by man.

Front 99

Voltaire

Back 99

He was an 18th century Enlightenment philosopher from France whose is known for both his prose (1759's "Candide") and his defense of civil liberties.