Systems of Power
In this government system, power is split and shared between a central government and regional state governments
What is a Federal System?
He believed people are naturally evil and need a single, absolute ruler to maintain order and protect them.
Who is Hobbes?
Government by a single individual who possesses complete control and authority.
What is an Autocracy?
The primary document written in 1776 to state why the 13 colonies were breaking away from King George III.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
The English document from 1689 that further restricted the power of the monarchy and established specific freedoms for Parliament and citizens.
What is the English Bill of Rights?
In this system, member states hold most of the power and delegate only limited authority to the central government
What is a Confederal system?
He argued that all people are born good with natural rights to life, liberty, and property
Who is Locke?
A system of government ruled by a small group of wealthy elite.
What is an Oligarchy?
The first English document historically recognized for limiting the power of the King.
What is the Magna Carta?
Thomas Jefferson was heavily influenced by John Locke's "Natural Rights" when he wrote that citizens are endowed with these unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence.
What are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
A system where the central government holds all primary power and tells local governments what they can do
What is a Unitary System?
The theory stating that citizens surrender some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection and security.
What is the Social Contract Theory?
A government characterized by complete state control over media, total control over society, and political repression.
What is Totalitarianism?
The major portion of the Declaration of Independence consists of these against the King of England.
What are grievances/complaints?
This form of government grants supreme control to a monarch or dictator without citizen input or constitutional limits.
What is an Autocracy (or Dictatorship)?
The central government handles defense and foreign policy, while regional states handle education, but the central government can override local decisions during emergencies
What is a Federal system?
This phrase describes the principle that a government's power comes directly from the approval of the people.
What is consent of the governed, popular sovereignty?
A democratic system where citizens elect officials or representatives to make laws on their behalf.
What is a Republic, Indirect Democracy, Representative Democracy?
If a government fails to protect basic rights, the Declaration asserts the people have the right to ___________.
What is revolt, or abolish and replace?
A key characteristic of this government system is that citizens have frequent opportunities to replace leadership through free and fair elections.
What is a Representative Democracy (or Republic)?
If a state law conflicts with a national law or the Constitution in the US, this level of government rules supreme - national or state
What is the national government?
The historical movement emphasizing reason, logic, and individual rights that sparked rebellions against tyranny.
What is the Enlightenment?
A system where all citizens vote directly on all rules and laws.
What is Direct Democracy?
Documents like the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights were all created primarily to achieve this goal.
What is limit the power of the monarch(king) and protect citizen rights?
The philosopher who proposed separating governmental power into distinct branches to prevent tyranny (a key influence on the U.S. Constitution).
Who is Baron de Montesquieu?