An Index of Helpful Terms

Republicanism: the principles or theory of republican government.

Republican: one that favors or supports a republican form of government.

Republic: a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law.

Democracy: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

Direct Democracy: a form of democracy in which the populace directly votes to decide on policies without any intermediary or representative.

Representative Democracy: a form of democracy in which representatives are elected by the public to decide on policies on behalf of their constituents.

Aristocracy: a government in which power is vested in a minority consisting of a class or group of people believed to be superior (as in rank, wealth, or intellect).

Bureaucracy: a government in which supreme power is vested in a body of nonelected government officials.

Capitalism: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.

Corporatism: the organization of a society into industrial and professional corporations serving as organs of political representation and exercising control over persons and activities within their jurisdiction

Socialism: any of various egalitarian economic and political theories or movements advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Free Market: an economy operating by free competition.

Economy: the structure or conditions of economic life in a country, area, or period.

Economics: a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Politics: the total complex of relations between people living in society

Polite: marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy.

Etiquette: the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life.

Courtesy: behavior marked by polished manners or respect for others. Courteous behavior.

Gentleman: a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of propriety or correct behavior.