The Purpose & History of U.S. Government: Vocabulary

A political system in which elected leaders exercise power and work in the interests of the people

• limited government

• representative government (republican government)

• domestic tranquility

• dictatorship

The idea that government powers should be split between two or more strongly independent branches to prevent any one person or group from gaining too much power

• domestic tranquility

• common defense

• separation of powers

• consolidation of powers

The rights and liberties that all people have by virtue of being human

• limited rights

• natural rights

  (individual rights)

• Petition of Right

• Magna Carta

A political system in which government powers are restricted, usually by a written constitution

• representative government

• dictatorship

• limited government

• popular sovereignty

The opening paragraph of the U.S. Constitution; defines the broad purposes of the republican government created by the Constitution

• Bill of Rights

• Preamble

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles

Fairness in the way that people are dealt with; giving each person what he or she deserves

• union

• posterity

• justice

• common defense

Peace and quiet at home

• domestic tranquility

• common defense

• posterity

• justice

The power and authority to form military units to protect the country from its enemies

• posterity

• general welfare

• common defense

• justice

The health, peace, and safety of citizens

• common defense

• domestic tranquility

• general welfare

• posterity

All future generations of people

• posterity

• common defense

• justice

• domestic tranquility