Term
1. Amendment
The First Amendment was ratified in 1791. |
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Definition
| change, improvement, or addition that is made to a law or document, or the process of doing this [image] |
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2. Aristocracy
The British royal family is part of an Aristocracy. |
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Definition
| A government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility [image] |
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3. Checks and balances
The U.S. Constitution provides checks and balances to keep the three branches of government in order. |
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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 [image] |
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4. Constitutionalism
Kings and Queens in Spain rule in a Constitutional Monarchy. |
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Definition
| the belief that a government should be based on a constitution [image] |
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5. Democracy
A Democracy allows citizens to either vote themselves or through representatives. |
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Definition
| a system of government in which every citizen in the country can vote to elect its government officials [image] |
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6. Direct Democracy
Citizens have voted for what they personally believe in since Direct Democracy has been established. |
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Definition
| A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives [image] |
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7. Executive
The executive branch signs or vetos the laws which are created. |
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Definition
| the part of government that makes sure decisions and laws work well [image] |
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8. Federalism
The U.S. believes in Federalism. |
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Definition
| belief in or support for a federal system of government [image] |
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Term
9. Indirect Democracy
Representatives are chosen for an Indirect Democracy through elections. |
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Definition
| Form of democracy in which individuals are represented by appointed representatives. [image] |
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Term
10. Judicial sentence
Court judges will make the final decision to a court case through a judicial sentence. |
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Definition
| relating to the law, judges, or their decisions [image] |
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Term
11. Judicial review
Together the courts will review the sentence the judge decides in a Judicial review. |
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Definition
| power of courts to review decisions of another department or level of government [image] |
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Term
12. Legislative
The Legislative Branch was created to improve aand change laws. |
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Definition
| an institution that has the power to make or change laws [image] |
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13. Limited power
Although Limited Power is restricted by law, it is crucial to the government. |
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Definition
| a type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law [image] |
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14. Monarchy
A Monarchy is passed down by blood relation, and will continue for generations. |
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Definition
| A government ruled by a king or queen [image] |
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Term
15. Oligarchy
An Oligarchy consists of a small group, but can have a lasting effect on the future. |
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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 [image] |
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Term
16. Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty was first used in 1846 by Senator Lewis Cass. |
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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) [image] |
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17. Preamble
The Constitution is well known for its Preamble. |
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Definition
| a statement at the beginning of a book, document, or talk, explaining what it is about [image] |
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18. Ratify
All laws are either ratified or delcined by an oficial who is required to sign it. |
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Definition
| to make a written agreement official by signing it [image] |
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19. Republic
The Indirect Democracy is also known as the Republic and citizens are able to elect officials to represent them in 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 [image] |
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Term
20. Separation of powers
The government has separation of powers and each divided part has its own responsibliities and powers. |
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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 [image] |
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21. Tyranny
Tyranny is most often avoided since there are things such as the constitution and laws in place to prevent Tyranny from occuring. |
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Definition
| cruel or unfair control over other people and/or cruel and unfair government [image] |
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Term
22. U.S. Bill of Rights
The U.S. Bill of Rights consists of amendments and were ratified in 1791. |
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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 [image] |
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