Gov't Chapter 1: The Principles of American Government Vocab

Consists of the individuals and groups that make societv's rules and possess the power and authoritv to guarantee that these rules are followed

• Government

• Sovereignty

• Public Service

• Politics

Activities aimed at resolving conflicts over the distribution of resources

• Government

• Sovereignty

• Public Service

• Politics

The legitimate or valid right to use power

• Government

• Sovereignty

• Authority

• Politics

Important services that individual citizens cannot provide for themselves

• Government

• Sovereignty

• Public services

• Politics

The absolute authority of state to govern itself

• Divine Right Theory

• Sovereignty

• Social Contract Theory

• Autocracy

The ruler of a state was granted to do so by God or the gods

• Divine Right Theory

• Sovereignty

• Social Contract Theory

• Autocracy

People agree to obey a common set of rules and give up some of their freedom in return for security

• Divine Right Theory

• Sovereignty

• Social Contract Theory

• Autocracy

A government in which power is held by a single person or group of individuals with no accountability to the people

• Divine Right Theory

• Sovereignty

• Social Contract Theory

• Autocracy

Government formed by an individual or group whose power is not supported by tradition

• Dictatorship

• Totalitarian Dictatorship

• Communism

• Democracy

A dictatorship sets the goals and controls almost all aspects of a country's social and economic life

• Dictatorship

• Totalitarian Dictatorship

• Communism

• Democracy