U.S. Government 1st Semester Exam Vocabulary Words

positive acts of government that seek to make constitutional guarantees a reality for all.

a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

false and malicious use of printed words.

the executive branch derives its democratic legitimacy from legislature (parliament).

a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

Separates church and state; church doctrine is not the same as the law.

a system of laws, regulatory measures, courses of action

the doctrine that kings derive their authority from God.

Americans provided raw goods to Britain, and Britain sold the finished product to the colonies.

the authority under the constitution to make laws and to alter or repeal them.

incorporating most of the guarantees in the Bill of Rights into the 14^th Amendment.

when a group of people or states form an alliance; allowed each member to govern itself.

control of a state or country by the majority of its members. Every member has one vote.

a supreme ruler, especially a monarch.

the right to believe whatever he or she choose to believe in matters of religion.

All the human-made resources that are used to produce goods and services.

most or all of the governing power resides in a centralized government.

sovereignty should be divided between the federal government and the states.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution.

an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.

attempting to overthrow the government by force; disrupt its lawful activities by violent acts.

a foreign-born resident, or noncitizen.

a branch or service of the supreme authority of a state or nation, representing the whole.

a country, state, or society governed by one person with absolute power.

the right and acceptance of an authority,usually a governing law or a regime; lawfulness

false and malicious use of spoken words.

guarantees of the safety of persons, opinions, and property from the arbitrary acts of govt.

the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

the authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

a country governed by a ruler who wields absolute authority.

the authority under the constitution to hear cases and interpret laws.

the authority under the Constitution to enforce the laws of the United States.

Basic resources which are used to make all goods and services.

states recognize the power of a central government while still keeping their powers.

Part of the 14^th Amendment which guarantees that no state deny basic rights to its people.

govt. where a president leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch.

a Greek philosopher and scientist who joined Plato’s Academy in Athens.

individuals are free to own the means of production and maximize limits.

a person who legally belongs to a country and has the rights and protection of that country.

the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country.