Details Title: American Government Terms Description: Vocabulary of Introductory Ideas from Am. Gov't Total Flash Cards: 15 Created: 09/26/2007 13:43:14		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional General Vocab Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term government Definition institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies Term public policy Definition all of the things a government decides to do Term legislative power Definition the power to make law and frame public policies Term executive power Definition the power to execute, enforce, and administer the law Term judicial power Definition the power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within society Term constitution Definition unfinished body of fundamental laws which set out the principles, structures, and processes of a government -power stems from the people in U.S. constitution Term dictatorship Definition form of gov't where power is exercised solely by a small group or single person Term democracy Definition form of gov't in which the powers are exercised with a majority of the people Term state Definition -body of people -living in defined territory -organized politically w/ gov't -power to make/enforce laws w/o consent of higher authority Term sovereign Definition 1 of 4 qualities that define a state: supreme and absolute power within its own territories: Pennsylvania is NOT a state by this definition Term origins of state-The force theory Definition idea that state came about from a single person or small group claimed control over an area and subjected inhabitants to their rules Term origins of state-The evolutionary theory Definition idea that state developed out of family; one head "President" of family, became larger over years to clan, then to tribe; after turning to agriculture, tribes settled down to form states Term origins of state-Divine Right Theory Definition idea that God created the state and gave those who ruled (Royal Birth) a right to rule, opposition considered treason and mortal sin; popular in Western World 15th-18th Century Term Purposes of Government (stated in preamble) Form a More Perfect Union Definition Articles of Confederation formed weak union, this seeked to remedy that Term Establish Justice Definition create and enforce reasonable, fair, and impartial laws