Background of Government

Theory that by contract, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order & the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens.

• state

• unitary system

• social contract

• sovereignty

Government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

• social contract

• unitary system

• consensus

• government

Group of people united by bonds of ethnicity, language, custom, tradition, & sometimes, religion

• state

• nation

• nation-state

• government

The supreme & absolute authority within territorial boundaries

• consensus

• sovereignty

• government

• social contract

A country in which the territory of both the nation and the state coincide

• state

• nation

• nation-state

• consensus

Political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from a higher authority

• state

• nation

• nation-state

• consensus

The institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, & enforces binding decisions on citizens

• consensus

• sovereignty

• government

• social contract

An agreement about basic beliefs

• state

• nation

• nation-state

• consensus

A government in which a constitution has authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern

• federal system

• confederacy

• constitution

• constitutional government

A loose union of independent states

• federal system

• confederacy

• constitution

• constitutional government