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SC 7-2.5
SC 7-2.5 Constitutions and Government
Term | Definition |
---|---|
constitution | plan of government that SETS THE TERMS of a social contract between a government and the people |
unwritten constitution | a collection of laws, traditions, and court decisions that develops over time |
written constitution | a document STATING THE RULES and principles on which a nation (or an organization) is run |
supreme law | the RULES that shape the actions of government and the people |
preamble | an INTRODUCTION stating the purposes to be served by government |
constitutional law | a body of rulings that carry legal force |
autocracy | a government in which power rests in the hands of a SINGLE leader and his or her advisers |
oligarchy | any system of government in which a SMALL GROUP, such as a political party, holds power |
democracy | any system in which THE PEOPLE hold power, usually through the vote |
James Madison | head of committee that wrote the CONSTITUTION of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
BILL OF RIGHTS | list of guaranteed citizens' rights 1st 10 amendments to the United States Constitution |