Government Systems
Direct Democracy - The people make laws themselves directly.
Oligarchy - A small group of people holds all the power. Their power is obtained from
military, wealth, or social status. Any elections held will hold only one candidate.
Absolute Monarch - A monarch holds all power and can make any decision they want.
Power is typically inherited or passed down through families.
Unitary System - Central government holds all key powers and gives powers to sub-
national governments. The smaller governments hold powers only granted to them.
Autocracy - Power to govern is held by one person, the power is inherited or taken by
force.
Limited Monarch - Monarch serves as a figurehead and is restricted by a constitution.
Representative Democracy - A small group of people chosen by the population expresses
their will.
Parliamentary Government - Legislature chooses the executive which is under legislative
control.
Presidential Government - Divides executive and legislative branches in a system of
checks and balances.
Federal System - Divides power between national and lower level governments. Each
government has its own distinct powers that the other governments cannot override.
Republic - A constitution spells out certain natural rights that the government can’t take
away, even if a majority of voters say otherwise.
Confederal System - Power is retained by local/regional governments. Common policy is
had, but each country has ultimate power over themselves.
Dictatorship - Single leader exercises all power, and the leader has not been elected. Uses
force to control every aspect of life.
People
John Locke - Wrote Two Treatises of Government, opposed authoritarianism, and didn’t
agree with Divine Right. He believed the government should protect the citizens from the
government. Social Contract Theory. Believed in life, liberty, and property, and influenced
the declaration of independence.
Thomas Jefferson - Wrote the declaration of independence.
King George III - Former ruler of the United States who taxed the colonies unfairly and did
not provide unalienable rights.
Montesquieu - Wrote the Spirit of The Laws. Influenced the constitution. Absolute power
corrupts absolutely, three branches, checks and balances, separation of powers.
Thomas Hobbes - Wrote Leviathan. People are naturally wicked. Absolute monarchy is the
best solution. No right to revolt because that would lead to war, resulting in anarchy.
Rousseau - Wrote the social contract. Believed in direct democracy. The majority of people
were too dumb to make decisions for the whole. All should have a voice, liberty can’t exist
without equality, and people will only obey rules they make for themselves.
Other terms and documents
English Bill of Rights - Prevent abuse of power for future monarchs, influenced American
Bill of Rights.
Unalienable Rights - Rights everyone has that can not be taken away.
Magna Carta - States certain rights can’t be taken away by anyone, and that not even an
absolute monarch is above law. No unfair taxation, no punishment without fair trial, and
life, liberty and property can’t be taken without following law.
Pledge of Allegiance - Written by Francis Bellamy in 1892, with 5 official versions. “Under
God” was added to oppose the Soviet Union, and was ruled as a patriotic exercise.
Social Contract Theory - People surrender some freedoms in exchange for protection
from the government.
Petition of Right - Document to curb King Charles I’s Power.
Divine Right - Power is given to the leader by God.
Parts of Declaration of Independence
Preamble - Outlines philosophy and justification for freedom.
List of Grievances - Complaints against the British Monarchy.
Formal Declaration - States that the United States is now free.
U.S. Citizen Duties
1. Support and defend the constitution.
2. Stay informed of issues.
3. Participate in voting.
4. Respect laws.
5. Respect rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
6. Participate in your community.
7. Pay taxes honestly and on time.
8. Serve on a jury when called.
9. Defend the country if need be.
10. Register to vote.
11. Military draft.
Taxes
1. Funds defense, education, social programs, health, law enforcement, and more.
2. Uses state taxes, federal taxes, sales taxes to pay for things
