Unit 1: Foundations of American Government Test Review

The state has supreme and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries; independence

• Sovereignty

• Territory

• Government

• Politics

Governments came about when people agreed to a contract; the people gave the state the power needed to maintain order; the state, in turn, agreed to protect its citizens

• Divine Right Theory

• Social Contract Theory

• Force Theory

• Evolutionary Theory

Institution which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces decisions

• Government

• Territory

• Politics

• Magna Carta

The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government

• Territory

• Public policy

• Politics

• Government

Form of autocratic government; a king, queen, or emperor exercises the supreme powers of government

• Monarchy

• Democracy

• Republic

• Oligarchy

Any system of government in which a small group holds power

• Monarchy

• Democracy

• Republic

• Oligarchy

Any system of government in which rule is by the people

• Monarchy

• Democracy

• Oligarchy

• Autocracy

The people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy (Republic)

The people elect representatives and give them the responsibility and power to make laws and conduct government; an indirect democracy

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

The power of the monarch, or government, was limited not absolute

• Rule of law

• Limited government

• Due process

• Laissez-faire