Political Science Vocabulary
Grade 12 · Social Studies · Flashcards
Master essential political science terms covering government systems, democratic theory, international relations, and political ideology.
Flashcards
- Sovereignty
- The supreme authority of a state to govern itself without external interference; the basis of the modern nation-state system.
- Democracy
- A system of government in which power derives from the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives.
- Oligarchy
- Rule by a small, privileged group — often based on wealth, military power, or family lineage.
- Theocracy
- A government in which religious leaders rule in the name of God or a divine authority, and religious law governs the state.
- Totalitarianism
- An authoritarian system where the state exercises total control over all aspects of public and private life; examples include Nazi Germany and Stalinist USSR.
- Separation of Powers
- Constitutional division of government authority among distinct branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent tyranny.
- Suffrage
- The right to vote in political elections. Universal suffrage means all adult citizens may vote regardless of gender, race, or class.
- Civil Liberties
- Fundamental individual rights protected from government interference, such as free speech, press, religion, and due process.
- Civil Rights
- Rights guaranteeing equal treatment and protection under law regardless of race, gender, or other characteristics.
- Geopolitics
- The study of how geography, resources, and spatial factors influence international relations and political power.
- Legitimacy
- The accepted right to govern; a government is legitimate when citizens recognize its authority as rightful and just.
- Political Ideology
- A coherent set of beliefs about the role of government and society; major ideologies include liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and libertarianism.
- Bicameralism
- A legislature divided into two chambers, typically balancing population-based and equal-state representation.
- Proportional Representation
- An electoral system where legislative seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes each party receives, enabling multi-party systems.
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