We the People | Unit 1 Vocabulary

The sharing and balancing of power among different branches of government so no one branch can completely control the others.

• colony

• Founders

• separation of powers

• checks and balances

1. The division of powers among the different branches of government. In the United States, powers are divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

• natural rights

• social contract

• separation of powers

• checks and balances

1. Americans who supported Great Britain during the Revolution.

• Founders

• Patriots

• Bill of Rights

• Loyalists

1. The people who were important in the establishment of the United States.

• Founders

• Patriots

• Bill of Rights

• Loyalists

1. An agreement among the people to set up a government and obey its laws.

• social contract

• Democracy

• Bill of Rights

• Constitutional Government

1. A government in which the powers of the ruler or rulers are limited by a constitution. Rulers must obey the constitution.

• social contract

• Democracy

• Republican Government

• Constitutional Government

1. The war fought by the American colonists to gain their independence from Great Britain. It took place from 1775 to 1781.

• separation of powers

• Democracy

• American Revolution

• Patriots

1. The good of the community as a whole.

• natural rights

• liberty

• common good

• Bill of Rights

1. A person under the authority or rule of another.

• Patriots

• colony

• subject

• Dictatorial Government

1. A form of government in which power is held by the people. The people exercise their power either directly or through elected representatives.

• Constitutional Government

• Republican Government

• Democracy

• Dictatorial Government