Political Concepts and Terms

Social contract

• An agreement among people in a society with a government

• A legal document outlining the rights of citizens

• A treaty between two or more nations

• A set of rules for a game or sport

Treaty

• A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries.

• A casual discussion between friends.

• A type of legal document for property transfer.

• An informal arrangement for a business deal.

Democracy

• A government in which citizens hold the power to rule

• A system where a single ruler has absolute power

• A form of government where decisions are made by a small group of elites

• A political system based on hereditary rule

Black codes

• Laws that promoted civil rights for African Americans after the Civil War.

• Restrictive laws designed to limit the freedom of African Americans and ensure their availability as a cheap labor force after slavery was abolished during the Civil War.

• Regulations that encouraged African American education and employment opportunities.

• Policies aimed at integrating African Americans into mainstream society.

Bicameral

• A legislature consisting of two parts or houses

• A single-chamber legislature

• A type of government with no legislative body

• A legislature that meets only once a year

Search warrant

• A legal document that allows a person to travel abroad.

• A court order allowing law enforcement officers to search a suspect's home or business and take specific items as evidence

• A notification sent to inform someone of a legal proceeding against them.

• A document that grants permission to conduct a public demonstration.

Enumerated Powers

• Powers granted directly to the national government by the Constitution; another name for expressed powers.

• Powers reserved for the states under the Tenth Amendment.

• Powers that are implied but not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

• Powers that are denied to the national government by the Constitution.

Duty

• A tax on something

• A type of legal obligation

• A moral responsibility

• A fee for service

Checks and Balances

• A system in which each branch of government is able to check or restrain the powers of others.

• A method for electing government officials.

• A way to limit the number of laws passed by Congress.

• A process for amending the Constitution.

The Federalist Papers

• A series of essays written to defend the Constitution.

• A collection of poems about American history.

• A set of laws governing state rights.

• A series of speeches advocating for the Bill of Rights.