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Government Terms

Terms to describe the different types of government
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Full list of words from this list:

  1. government
    the system or form by which a community is ruled
  2. democracy
    the orientation of those who favor government by the people
  3. communism
    a theory favoring collectivism in a classless society
  4. anarchy
    a state of lawlessness and disorder
  5. oligarchy
    a political system governed by a few people
  6. republic
    a form of government whose head of state is not a monarch
  7. federalism
    government divided between central and regional powers
  8. federal
    of a government with central and regional authorities
  9. totalitarianism
    a form of government in which the ruler is unconstrained
  10. tyranny
    government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
  11. dictatorship
    a form of government in which the ruler is unconstrained
  12. dictator
    a ruler who is unconstrained by law
  13. tyrant
    a cruel and oppressive dictator
  14. monarch
    a nation's ruler usually by hereditary right
  15. Articles of Confederation
    a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states; it provided a legal symbol of their union by giving the central government no coercive power over the states or their citizens
  16. Continental Congress
    the legislative assembly composed of delegates from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution; they issued the Declaration of Independence and framed Articles of Confederation
  17. Magna Carta
    the royal charter of political rights given to rebellious English barons by King John in 1215
  18. constitution
    the act of forming or establishing something
  19. ratify
    approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
    The Constitution was ratified in 1787,and the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.
  20. ratification
    making something valid by formally confirming it
    The Constitution needed ratification from all the states to establish and preserve national unity.
  21. legislative branch
    the part of the government that makes laws
    The legislative branch of government; elected by the people, also know as Congress responsible for proposing and passing laws.
  22. executive branch
    part of U.S. government responsible for carrying out laws
    The executive branch of the government includes the president and the departments that help run the government.
  23. judicial branch
    part of the government that administers justice
    The Judicial Branch of government is made up of all the national courts.
  24. amendment
    a statement that is added to a proposal or document
    There are a total of 27 amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
  25. Bill of Rights
    a statement of fundamental freedoms and privileges
    The Bill of Rights was created in to protect people’s basic rights that had been guaranteed in their state constitutions.
  26. bill
    a statute in draft before it becomes law
    After Congress passes a bill, it must go to the president to sign before it can become a law.
  27. veto
    a vote that blocks a decision
    After Congress passes a bill, it must go to the president to sign before it can become a law.
  28. constitution
    the act of forming or establishing something
    The right to speak freely is written into the Constitution of the United States (1st Amendment).
Created on Mon Mar 11 22:43:15 EDT 2013 (updated Wed Apr 17 01:46:05 EDT 2013)

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