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| The ability to influence government and politics. |
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| Informed and active membership in a political community. |
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| Institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled |
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| A form of government in which a single individual-- a king, queen or dictator rules. |
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| A form of government in whihc a small group -- landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants controls most of the governing decisions. |
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| A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials. |
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| Constitutional Government |
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| A system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government. |
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| A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions. |
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| A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limit on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it. |
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| Influence over a government's leadership, organization or policies. |
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| Representative Democracy/Republic |
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| A system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making. |
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| A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies |
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| The theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation. |
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| Broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality and democracy. |
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| Freedom from governmental control |
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| An economic system in which means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference. |
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| A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential. |
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| The right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote" |
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| A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people. |
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| Majority Rule, Minority Rights |
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| The democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority. |
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| Articles of Confederation |
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Definition
| America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789. It was really weak and consist of a loose alliance between the 12 states in the 18th century. |
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| A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government. |
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| A framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, which called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state. |
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| A framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, which called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population. |
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