Unit 1 Vocab Ms. White

A form of government in which a single person—usually a king or queen—holds absolute, autocratic power (autocratic - not considering the opinions/wishes of the people).  In absolute monarchies, the succession of power is typically hereditary, with the throne passing among members of a ruling family

• Absolute Monarchy

• Authoritarianism

• Totalitarianism

• Dictatorship

A political system characterized by the rejection of democracy and political plurality.  It involves the use of strong central power to preserve the political status quo, and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voting

• Libertarianism
• Anarchy
• Totalitarianism
• Authoritarianism

A form of government and a political system that prohibits all opposition parties, outlaws individual and group opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high if not complete degree of control and regulation over public and private life

• Anarchy
• Democracy
• Monarchy
• Totalitarianism

An autocratic form of government which is characterized by a leader, or a group of leaders, who hold governmental powers with few to no limitations.  Politics in a dictatorship are controlled by a dictator, and they are facilitated through an inner circle of elites that includes advisers, generals, and other high-ranking officials

• Oligarchy
• Monarchy
• Dictatorship
• Anarchy

A power structure made up of a few elite individuals, families, or corporations that are allowed to control a country or organization.  The people who hold the power in an oligarchy are called “oligarchs” and are related by characteristics such as wealth, family, nobility, corporate interests, religion, politics, or military power

• Oligarchy
• Anarchy
• Monarchy
• Democracy

A system of government in which state power is vested in the people or the general population of a state

• Oligarchy
• Democracy
• Theocracy
• Monarchy

A form of government in which the people elect officials to create laws and policy on their behalf.  Representative democracy is sometimes called indirect democracy.  Representative democracy is the opposite of direct democracy, in which the people themselves vote on every law or policy considered at every level of government

• participatory democracy
• autocracy
• monarchy
• Representative democracy

A form of government in which a monarch—typically a king or queen—acts as the head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution.  In a constitutional monarchy, political power is shared between the monarch and a constitutionally organized government such as a parliament.  Constitutional monarchies are the opposite of absolute monarchies

• Absolute Monarchy
• Democratic Republic
• Oligarchy
• Constitutional Monarchy

A form of democracy in which all laws and policies imposed by governments are determined by the people themselves, rather than by representatives who are elected by the people.  In a true direct democracy, all laws, bills, and even court decisions are voted on by all citizens.  Direct democracy is also sometimes called "pure democracy"

• Indirect democracy
• Representative democracy
• Participatory democracy
• Direct democracy

The study of the rights and obligations of citizens in society

• Cultural rights of citizens in the workplace
• Social rights of citizens in government
• Economic rights of citizens in society
• Civics