One type of democratic government in which all citizens have the opportunity to participate in their government on a first hand basis, citizens can attend public meetings and vote on all legislation. This type of democracy began in the ancient city-state of Athens. Today very few nations practice this type of democracy because it is not practical to bring all citizens together for a meeting.

A system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government. Generally, an overarching national government is responsible for broader governance of larger territorial areas, while the smaller subdivisions, states, and cities govern the issues of local concern. Both the national government and the smaller political subdivisions have the power to make laws and both have a certain level of autonomy from each other.

A person who shapes or creates a concept, plan, or system. As applied to American Government it refers to those who developed the structure of our government system.

A political philosopher who believed that a government elected by the people was the best form of government.

He is often regarded as the father of modern political philosophy. His greatest contributions would be further work on Jean Jacques Rousseau’s social contract theory. His works would influence other philosophers such as John Locke.

The idea suggested and supported by Rousseau, Hobbes, Locke and others that a governed people would give up part of their authority to self-rule to a government in exchange that government would secure the governed people’s rights and protection. This idea became a driving force for colonial leaders who wanted “American independence”.

The nobles forced King John to sign this in the year 1215. This document limited the power of the government, gave English nobles fundamental rights including the right to a trial by jury and due process of law.

He suggested the theory of natural law. One of his most important arguments, and a hinge point of the “American way of life” was the concept of private property.

Perhaps the single most important “Enlightenment” writer. At the foundation of his thought on government and authority is the idea of the “social contract,” in which government and authority are a mutual contract between the authorities and the governed; this contract implies that the governed agree to be ruled only so that their rights, property and happiness be protected by their rulers. Once rulers cease to protect the ruled, the social contract is broken and the governed are free to choose another set of governors… This idea would become the primary animating force in the Declaration of Independence…

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

In this type of democracy citizens elect a certain number of other citizens to represent them in making laws and establishing public policies. This representative body may be called an assembly, a legislature, a parliament, a congress or a council. The United States is an example of this type of democracy.

This word means the same thing as Representative Democracy.

This document limited the power of the monarch, no standing army in peacetime, free elections of parliament and local leaders, right of petition and parliamentary checks on power.

This document supported the idea that men have rights and established the rule of law. Among the rights included were the guarantee of a trial by jury, protection against martial law, protection against quartering of troops and protection of private property.

The supreme and absolute power a government has over its people within its own territory. This is important because it distinguishes the “state” from lesser political units.