In this form of government, citizens elect leaders to make laws and decisions on their behalf.
What is a representative democracy?
This 1776 document declared American independence from Great Britain.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Freedom of speech, religion, and press are examples of these constitutional protections.
What are civil liberties?
This principle means that government is not all-powerful and must obey the law.
What is limited government?
The freedom to think, speak, and act without undue government interference is known as this core American value.
What is liberty?
The United States is primarily this type of democracy, where citizens elect officials to represent them.
What is a representative democracy?
John Locke argued that people are born with these three natural rights
What are life, liberty, and property?
These are freedoms and protections guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution.
What are individual rights?
This principle divides government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is separation of powers?
This American value emphasizes equal opportunity and equal treatment under the law.
What is equality?
This model of democracy emphasizes broad citizen participation in government and civic life.
What is participatory democracy?
This idea states that government gets its authority from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
Voting, volunteering, and attending public meetings are examples of this.
What is civic participation?
This system allows each branch of government to restrain the powers of the others.
What are checks and balances?
This term describes a system in which political power comes from the people.
What is democracy?
This theory argues that political power is distributed among many competing groups and interests.
What is pluralist democracy?
This Enlightenment concept says people agree to give up some freedoms in exchange for government protection.
What is the social contract?
Citizens who are at least 18 years old generally have this important political responsibility
What is the right/responsibility to vote?
This constitutional principle divides power between the national and state governments.
What is federalism?
Serving on a jury, voting, and staying informed are examples of this civic virtue.
What is civic duty?
This theory suggests that a small group of wealthy or influential people holds the most political power.
What is elite democracy?
The Declaration of Independence states that if government violates people's rights, citizens have this power.
What is the right to alter or abolish the government?
Laws, regulations, and government actions designed to address public problems are collectively called this.
What is public policy?
No person, including government officials, is above this principle.
What is the rule of law?
This belief emphasizes personal independence and self-reliance.
What is individualism?