Outline of government


The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to government:
Government - system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a means by which organizational policies are enforced, as well as a mechanism for determining policy. In many countries, the government has a kind of constitution, a statement of its governing principles and philosophy.
While all types of organizations have governance, the term government is often used more specifically to refer to the approximately 200 independent national governments and subsidiary organizations.

Government and the State

What is government?

Government - is a general term which can be used to refer to public bodies organizing the political life of the society. Government can also refer to the collective head of the executive branch of power in a polity.
Public policies -
Legislative power -
Executive power -
Judicial power -
Constitution -

The State

Five characteristics of a state

Major Political Ideas

Evolutionary Theory -
Social Contract Theory -
Divine Theory -
Meritocracy -

The Purpose of Government

Form a More Perfect Union -
Establish Justice -
Insure Domestic Tranquility -
Provide for the Common Defense -
Promote the General Welfare -
Secure the Blessings of Liberty -

History of government

History of government

Origins of American Government

Our Political Beginnings

Basic concepts of Government
Ordered government
Limited government
Representative government
Landmark English Documents
Magna Carta
Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights
English Colonies
Charter
Royal Colonies - New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
Proprietary colonies - Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware
Charter colonies - Connecticut and Rhode Island

The Coming of Independence

New England Confederation
Albany Plan of Union
Delegate
Boycott
Repeal
Popular sovereignty
Declaration of Independence

Critical Period

Articles of Confederation
Ratification
Presiding Officer

Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Framers of the Constitution -
Virginia Plan -
New Jersey Plan -
Connecticut Compromise -
Three-Fifths Compromise -
Slave Trade Compromise -
Federalists -
Anti-Federalists -
Quorum -

Forms of government

Who Can Participate

Democracy -
Dictatorship -

Geographic Distribution of Power

Unitary government -
Federal government -
Confederate government -

Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Powers

Presidential government -
Parliamentary government -

Basic Concepts of Democracy

Foundations

Popular sovereignty
Limited government
Human equality

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System

Free enterprise system -
Law of supply and demand -
Mixed economy -

The Constitution

Six Basic Principles

Preamble
Articles

Basic Principles

Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
  • Veto
Judicial review
Federalism

Legislature

Chambers
Unicameralism
Multicameralism
Bicameralism
Tricameralism
Tetracameralism
Upper house
Lower house
Parliament
Parliamentary system
Parliamentary group
Member of Parliament
International parliament
Parliamentary procedure
Committee
Quorum
Motion
Types
Congress
City council
The Estates
Legislator -
Committee member -
Trustee -
Delegate -
Partisan -
Politico -
Senator -
Money