Foundations of Government Key Terms

A government controlled by one or more religious leaders who claim to rule on behalf of God or the gods worshipped in their country.

• Theocracy

• Monarchy

• Oligarchy

• Dictatorship

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives. Direct rule by the people.

• Representative Democracy; Republic

• Direct Democracy; Pure Democracy

• Oligarchy

• Monarchy

A person, such as a king or queen, who reigns over a kingdom or empire. "Rule by one by right."

• Monarch

• Dictator

• President

• Prime Minister

A person who rules with complete and absolute power. "Rule by one by might"

• Monarch

• Dictator

• President

• Prime Minister

The people of a nation either rule direly or they elect officials who act on their behalf. "Rule by the people"

• Republic

• Oligarchy

• Monarchy

• Democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf. Also called a Republic.

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

• Oligarchy

• Monarchy

A written plan of government. (Usually written)

• Declaration

• Treatise

• Constitution

• Confederation

The basic rights to which all people are entitled as human beings

• Social rights

• Natural Rights (or Human Rights)

• Endowed Rights

• Unalienable Rights

A loose association, rather than a firm union, of states

• Declaration

• Constitution

• Treatise

• Confederation

Supreme power or authority; the authority of a state to govern itself.

• Monarchy

• Sovereignity

• Leviathan

• Despotism