Government: A permanent structure composed of decision makers who make society’s rules about conflict resolution and the allocation of resources and who possess the power to enforce those rules.

Authority: The features of a leader or institution that compel obedience, usually because of ascribed legitimacy. In most societies, government is the ultimate authority.

Legitimacy: Status conferred by the people on the government’s officials, acts, and institutions through their belief that the government’s actions are an appropriate use of power by a legally constituted governmental authority following correct decision-making policies. These actions are regarded as rightful and entitled to compliance and obedience on the part of citizens.

Origins of Democracy: The Athenian system of government is usually considered the model for direct democracy, because the citizens of that community debated and voted directly on all laws. It also featured a legislature composed of all of the citizens.

1. Representative democracy: Form of government in which representatives elected by the

5. The Declaration of Independence, 1776, advocated independence from Great Britain.

4. The Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges, 1701, contained a constitution and bill of rights and offered a precedent and rationale for our national Constitution.

Liberalism: A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.

Milestone political documents that moved the colonies from the mayflower Compact to the Constitutional Convention: (p.32-37)

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