GOVT: Concepts of Democracy

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Popular sovereignty

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A principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives.

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Natural rights

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Rights that are not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs of a particular society or polity.

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Rule of law

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The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.

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Self-government

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A system where the citizens of a country (or smaller political unit) rule themselves and control their own affairs.

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Consent of the governed

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The idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when consented to by the people or society over which that political power is exercised.

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Constitutional republic

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A state where the head of state and other officials are representatives of the people and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the government's power over citizens.

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Autocracy

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A system of government in which a single person or party possesses supreme and absolute power.

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Direct democracy

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A form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly.

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Representative democracy

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A type of democracy founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people.

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Presidential system

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A democratic and republican government in which a head of government leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch.