FOAG - Foundations of American Government Overview
Module Overview
The American government is a complex political system that is rich in history and philosophy. In order to fully understand the depth and structure of the American government, one must understand the history that shaped the political landscape our country sits on today. In the "Foundations of American Government" module, you will learn about the purpose of government, the history and philosophies of government that date back to the 4th century BCE, basic forms of government systems found around the world today, and the organization of government. America is founded on the idea of democracy. We will further answer the question, "What is a democracy?", and learn about the values and beliefs that shape a democratic nation.
Essential Questions
- What is the purpose of government?
- Where did the idea of government originate?
- What are the different types of governments?
- What political philosophies shaped the development of the United States Constitution and government?
- What are the philosophies that are outlined in the Declaration of Independence?
Key Terms
- Authority - power to rule and make decisions
- Autocracy - government in which one person has uncontrolled or unlimited authority over others
- Citizens - the residents of a city, state, or country
- Confederal system - a union or combination of peoples, states, etc; alliance; league, under one centralized government
- Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system
- Dictatorship - absolute or unlimited power held by a single person; power to control is usually taken over by force
- English Bill of Rights - this bill was a precursor to the American Bill of Rights
- Equality - the idea that all people are of the same worth in all aspects of life
- Free Market - an economic system in which prices and wages are determined by unrestricted competition between businesses without government regulation or fear of monopolies
- Government - a system by which people are ruled within a state or community
- Legitimacy - acceptance of the rules and laws established by the government and belief in the government’s right to govern
- Liberty - the freedoms enjoyed by all U.S. citizens; right to act and think as one chooses
- Limited Government - a type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed and restricted by law
- Magna Carta - written in 1215, it is the "great charter" of English liberties
- Mayflower Compact- the fundamental law of the Plymouth Colony
- Monarchy - supreme power held by a single person; king or queen
- Oligarchy - a form of government ruled by a few, select individuals; aristocracy
- Petition of Rights - a major English constitutional document that sets out specific liberties which the king is prohibited from infringing
- Policy - a guideline the government implements in order to protect its citizens: laws; goals; defense; taxation
- Politics - a government process used to make decisions; allows for competing opinions
- Power -the authority the government has over its citizens
- Representative Government - a form of government in which the citizens delegate authority to elected representatives
- Republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them
- Self-government - the idea that people can rule themselves and are political equals
- Sovereignty - supreme and independent power or authority in government as possessed or claimed by a state or community
- State - a geographical area that has the power to make, implement, and enforce laws
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