Forms of Government

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Constitutional Monarchy

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A form of government where a monarch is the head of state, but their powers are limited by a constitution, typically within a parliamentary system.

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Direct Democracy

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A system of government where citizens participate directly in making all public policy decisions.

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Presidential Democracy

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A type of government where the elected head of the executive branch operates independently of the legislative and judicial branches.

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Parliamentary Democracy

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A system of government where the executive branch is drawn from and accountable to the legislative branch, with no strict separation of powers.

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Republic

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A political system where supreme power lies with citizens who elect representatives to make laws on their behalf.

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Federal System

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A government structure where power is divided between a central authority and smaller regional units, as in the United States.

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Unitary System

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A system where all governmental power is concentrated in a central authority, with little or no power delegated to local units.

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Three-Fifths Compromise

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An agreement at the Constitutional Convention that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation in Congress.

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Great Compromise

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A Constitutional Convention agreement that combined the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan to create a bicameral legislature.

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Commerce Clause

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A provision in the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to regulate trade between states, foreign nations, and Native American tribes.