an agreement in which both sides agree to something in order to reach a shared goal

a supreme ruler

an agreement between people and their government

blank slate or page

people are born with the rights of life, liberty, and property

people want to live and will fight to survive

people want to be free as possible to make their own decisions

people want to own things that help them survive, such as land, food, and tools

body of people, living in a defined space, with the power to make and enforce laws

group of people who are the members or citizens of a state

the area in which a state's rules apply; must have set boundaries

the ability to rule absolutely within a territory

the kind of relationships the government has with other states or nations

government provides rules for how things inside the state are run

government provides a military to defend the state against an outside attack

government establishes law enforcement agencies that deal with criminal activity

government provides the services people need

form of government that recognizes God or a divine being as the ultimate authority

small group of people - usually military officers - who rule a country after taking it over by force

form of government in which a king or a queen rules the country

form of government where one leader has absolute control over citizens' lives

form of government where a small group has all the power; could be based on social class or race

form of government where nobody is in control; chaos

form of government where citizens hold the political power

form of government in which one person has all the power

form of government where citizens elect leaders to represent their rights and interests in government

form of government where there are no representatives; citizens are directly involved

the organization inside a state that controls the actions and policies of the state

documents that describe the laws and organization of a nation

citizens are active in their government, such as serving in th military an holding public office

decisions about a case are made by the people

the power to approve or disapprove laws

a group of people who make the laws

authoritative orders

everyone must follow the law

dividing power among several branches of the government

the citizens of the country give their permission to be governed by the country's government

protects the right of small or unpopular group regardless of what the majority believes