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U.S. Government
Chp. 1 Vocab.
22
Other
12th Grade
03/03/2011

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Term
Government
Definition
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
Term
public policy
Definition
all of the goals a gov. sets and the various courses of action it persues as it attempts to realize these goals
Term
legislative power
Definition
the power to make a law and to frame public policies
Term
executive power
Definition
the power to execute, enforce, and administer laws
Term
judicial power
Definition
the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes w/in the society
Term
constitution
Definition
the body of fundamental law setting out the principles, structures, and processes of gov.
Term
dictatorship
Definition
a form of gov. in which the leader has absolute power and authority.
Term
democarcy
Definition
a form of gov. in which the supreme authority rests w/ the people
Term
state
Definition
a body of people living in a defined territory who have a gov. w/ the power to make and enforce law w/o the consent of any higher authority
Term
sovereign
Definition
having supreme power w/in its own territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority
Term
autocracy
Definition
a form of gov. in which a single person holds unlimited political power
Term
oligarchy
Definition
a form of gov. in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self- appointed elite
Term
unitary government
Definition
a centralized gov. in which all gov powers belong to a single, central agency
Term
federal government
Definition
a form of gov. in which powers are divided b/t a central gov, and several local gov.
Term
division of powers
Definition
basic principle of federalism; the constitution provisions by which gov powers are divided on a geographic basis (the US -->> b/t the National Gov. and States)
Term
confederation
Definition
a joining of several groups for a common purpose
Term
presidential government
Definition
a form of gov. in which the executive and legislative branches of the gov. are separate, independent, and coequal
Term
parliamentary government
Definition
a form of gov. in which the executive branch is made up of the prime minister, or premier, and that officaial's cabinet
Term
compromise
Definition
an adjustment of opposing principles or systems by modifying some aspect of each
Term
free enterprise system
Definition
an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control, and determined in a free market
Term
law of supply and demand
Definition
a law which stated that when supplies of goods and services become plentiful, prices tend to drop. when supplies become scarcer, prices tend to rise
Term
mixed economy
Definition
an economy in which private enterprise exists in combination w/ a considerable amount of gov regulation and promotion
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