Unit 1 Vocabulary terms
monarchy democracy
(absolute & limited)
(direct &indirect)
republic
constitution
Unit 1 Vocabulary terms
Due Process
amendment
(of law)
Divine Right
of Kings
natural
rights
Unit 1 Vocabulary terms
Social
Contract
separation
of powers
Parliament
ratify
Unit 1 Vocabulary terms
revolution philosophe
liberalism
radicalism
Unit 1 Vocabulary terms
conservatism moderate
citizen
federal
system
Unit 1 Vocabulary terms
coup d’etat
salon
nobles
tyranny
Unit 1 Vocabulary terms
Judeo-Christian
values
theocracy
aristocracy
anarchy
bourgeoisie
clergy
Unit 1 Vocabulary definitions
Monarchy-
A system of government led by a
king or queen. Succession is
hereditary.
Absolute = with total, complete
power;
Limited = monarch is restrained
by certain guidelines or laws.
(ex. Constitutional Monarchy)
Republic-
Democracy-
a system of government where
decisions and laws are made by
its citizens.
direct= originated in ancient Greece,
each citizen participates in governing at an
equal level;
indirect= developed in the Roman
Republic, citizens elect representatives to
make decisions for them.
Constitution-
a government that
a written set of laws and
practices representative, or guidelines that determine
indirect democracy.
how a nation is to be
ex) I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
governed.
USofA, and to the republic, for which it
stands…
Unit 1 Vocabulary definitions
Amendment
Due process (of law)
a change; used to
A formal process to which a
describe a change made to person is entitled if accused of a
a constitution or law.
crime. Its purpose is to ensure fair
treatment guided by established
rules.
Divine Right of Kings
Natural rights
The belief that monarchs receive
Rights endowed to every person
their power directly from God;
simply by act of being born,
monarchs used it to justify their
regardless of any class distinction;
power and to answer to no one but
Also known as human rights, or
God.
inalienable rights.
Unit 1 Vocabulary definitions
Social contract
Separation of powers
agreement between a government
a system of government in which
and the people where society
executive, legislative & judicial
agrees to be governed by the
branches can limit and control
general will; in return the
each other through a system of
government is responsive to this will checks and balances.
and should be abolished if it is not.
Parliament
Ratify
a representative body of
advisers to a government
leader; England’s decisionmaking body.
to legally approve, or
accept
Unit 1 Vocabulary definitions
Revolution
politically, a change in
government; usually
radical, immediate and
violent.
Philosophe
French for philosopher; used to
describe the Enlightenment
thinkers of 18th-century Europe
who rejected traditional beliefs in
favor of rational or scientific
thinking.
Liberalism
political philosophy which
emphasizes the protection of basic
rights of all individuals; seeks to
limit government power over
people.
Radicalism
a political philosophy which
supports extreme change in
existing views or institutions; may
support drastic action to make
change occur.
Unit 1 Vocabulary definitions
Conservatism
political philosophy which
supports traditional views & social
stability; promotes obedience to
authority & church.
Moderate
politically “in-between”
philosophy; seeks change through
non-extreme methods; supports
social stability and individual
rights. Neither conservative nor
radical.
Citizen
Federal system
a form of government where
power is shared between a central
(national) government and state
governments.
an individual who has
political rights and
privileges in a society
Unit 1 Vocabulary definitions
Coup d’etat
overthrow of a
government by a small
group; a coup.
Nobles
people of a wealthy, landed or
titled class; collectively known as
the “Nobility”; also known as
aristocrats; a title of a feudal
political system.
Salon
formal meeting rooms in large
homes where people gathered to
discuss the Enlightenment ideas of
philosophes; hosted mostly by
women; contributed to the spread
of Enlightenment ideas.
Tyranny
oppressive government
where absolute power lies
with one individual, known
as a tyrant.
Unit 1 Vocabulary definitions
Judeo-Christian values
Theocracy
belief system that is rooted in
the teachings of Judaism and
Christianity.
a system of
government led by the
church, or its officials.
Aristocracy
Anarchy
a system of government
where the wealthy rule.
a society with a complete
absence of government.
Bourgeoisie
Clergy
the middle class; also includes
wealthy people without noble rank. As
a group, made significant contributions
to the French Revolution.
Church officials, or
clerics.