SHS Chapter 1 - People and Government

state

A political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from any higher authority

nation

A group of people who share the same race, language, customs, traditions, and sometimes, religion

nation-state

A country in which the territory of both the nation and the state coincide

consensus

An agreement about basic beliefs

sovereignty

The supreme and absolute authority within territorial boundaries

government

The institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces binding decisions on citizens

social contract

The theory that people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order, and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens

unitary system

A government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

federal system

A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments

confederacy

A loose union of independent states

constitution

A plan that provides the rules for government

constitutional government

A government in which a constitution has authority to place clearly recognized limits on the power of those who govern

preamble

A statement in the constitution that sets forth the goals and purposes of government

constitutional law

Law that involves the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution and state constitution

politics

The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government

industrialized nation

A nation with large industries and advanced technology that provides a more comfortable way of life than developing nations

developing nation

A nation only beginning to grow industrially

autocracy

A system of government in which the power to rule is in the hands of a single individual

monarchy

An autocracy in which a king, queen, or emperor exercises supreme powers of government

oligarchy

A system of government in which a small group holds power

democracy

A government in which the people rule

republic

A government in which voters hold sovereign power; elected representatives, responsible to the people, exercise that power

political party

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

free enterprise

A system in which individuals have the opportunity to make their own economic decisions

economics

The study of human efforts to satisfy seemingly unlimited wants through the use of limited resources

free market

An economic system in which buyers and sellers make free choices in the marketplace

laissez-faire

Philosophy that government should keep its hands off the economy

capitalism

An economic system providing free choice and individual incentive for workers, investor, consumers and business enterprises

socialism

An economic system in which the government owns the basic means of production, distributes products and wages, and provides social services such as health care and welfare

bourgeoisie

Capitalists who own the means of production

proletariat

Workers who provide the labor to produce goods

communism

An economic system in which the central government directs all major economic decisions

command economy

An economic system in which the government controls the factors of production