We The PeopleUnit One Vocabulary

Mrs. MataNYOS Charter School

8th grade Social Studies

aristocrats

autocratic governmentWhen a

single ruler or group has

unlimited power

civic virtuethe dedication of

citizens to the common welfare of their community or country, even at the

cost of their individual interests

common goodthe good of the community as a

whole

consentto agree and

accept something, approve of

something, or allow something

to take place

constitutiona set of customs,

traditions, rules, and laws that set forth the way a government is

organized and operated

Constitutional government

in which the powers of the rule or rulers are limited by a constitution

delegate

1) a person chosen to act for or represent others2) to entrust someone to represent your interests

dictatorial governmenta political system in which the ruler or

rulers has unlimited power and which denies

peoples’ fundamental rights

direct democracya type of government in which the people meet and make the

laws that they decide are needed

factions

1. a small group within a larger group2. according to James Madison, a group that

seeks to promote its own special interests at the expense of the common good

republican governmenta system for ruling in which power is held by the people who are eligible to elect representatives to

run the government for the common

good

self-sufficientable to provide

for most of one’s own needs

social contract

an agreement among the people to set up a government and obey its laws, developed

by John Locke

state of naturethe basis of natural rights philosophy; a

state of nature is the condition of people living in a situation without man-made

government, rules, or laws

subjectsomeone who

owes allegiance to a government or

ruler

Founders

the political leaders of the thirteen original colonies, they were key figures in the establishment of the United States of

America

governmentthe people and institutions with

authority to make and enforce laws and manage dispute about laws

Indentured servantsa person who

voluntarily sold his or her labor for a set

period of time in return for the cost of coming to America. The most important source of labor in the colonies.

limited governmentin natural rights philosophy, a system restricted to protecting natural rights

that does not interfere with other aspects of life

monarchya form of

government in which political

power is held by a single ruler such as

a king or queen

natural rights

a doctrine that human beings have basic rights, such as: life, liberty, and property in a

state of nature and that people create governments to protect those rights

Representative democracya system for ruling in which elected

representatives are chosen by the people to act on their behalf