Term
1. Amendment
The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. |
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Definition
Change, improvement, or addition that is made to a law or document, or the process of doing this
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2. Aristocracy
America is not an aristocracy. |
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Definition
A government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility
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3. Checks and balances
Checks and balances are a very important part of our government. |
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Definition
From Montesquieu, a fundamental democratic principle of American government which ensures that one branch does not accumulate too much power
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Term
4. Constitutionalism
Constitutionalism is something that the Founding Fathers probably believed. |
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Definition
The belief that a government should be based on a constitution
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5. Democracy
Many people incorrectly believe that America is a democracy. |
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Definition
A system of government in which every citizen in the country can vote to elect its government officials
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6. Direct Democracy
America has representatives and is therefore not a direct democracy. |
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Definition
A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives
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Term
7. Executive
The Executive branch of government is the a major part of the government. |
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Definition
The part of government that makes sure decisions and laws work well
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Term
8. Federalism
Federalism is not a type of government that we use in the United States. |
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Definition
Belief in or support for a federal system of government
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9. Indirect Democracy
Indirect Democracy is very similar to the type of government we have in the US. |
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Definition
Form of democracy in which individuals are represented by appointed representatives.
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Term
10. Judicial
When someone commits a crime, people in the judicial system decide their sentence. |
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Definition
Relating to the law, judges, or their decisions
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Term
11. Judicial review
The judicial review discussed the decision the executive branch of government had made. |
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Definition
Power of courts to review decisions of another department or level of government
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Term
12. Legislative
The Legislative branch of government has a significant amount of power to be able to change law. |
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Definition
An institution that has the power to make or change laws
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Term
13. Limited power
A limited power government seems to me like a good idea to keep everyone in check. |
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Definition
A type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law
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Term
14. Monarchy
I would never want to live in a country with a monarchy. |
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Definition
A government ruled by a king or queen
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Term
15. Oligarchy
An oligarchy seems like a good idea on paper, but no nation seems to last very long using this form of government. |
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Definition
A small group of people who run a country or organization, or a country that is run by a small group of people
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Term
16. Popular Sovereignty
Popular sovereignty wouldn't work in the US because there are too many people to use this form of government. |
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Definition
Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed (p 70)
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Term
17. Preamble
There is a preamble at the beginning of the Constitution. |
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Definition
A statement at the beginning of a book, document, or talk, explaining what it is about
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Term
18. Ratify
All the leaders had to sign or ratify the Declaration of Independence before the could send it out. |
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Definition
To make a written agreement official by signing it
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Term
19. Republic
America is a good example of a Republic government. |
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Definition
A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
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Term
20. Separation of powers
The separation of powers keeps any one part of our government from getting too strong and keeps our country from becoming communist. |
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Definition
Division of governmental authority among the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The US Constitution uses this principle in setting the presidency, the Congress, and the courts
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Term
21. Tyranny
King George exercised tyranny throughout his rule. |
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Definition
Cruel or unfair control over other people and/or cruel and unfair government
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Term
22. U.S. Bill of Rights
The U. S. Bill of Rights explains all the rights of the citizens and keeps them in place. |
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Definition
A written statement of the most important rights of the citizens of a country, part of the U.S. Constitution
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