Deism
Belief in a creator who does not intervene in the world and that reason and observation of nature are sufficient to understand it.
Elite
Small, privileged group with more power or influence in a society.
Rule of Law
Principle that all people and authorities are subject to the law, which must be applied fairly and consistently.
Absolutism
System of government in which total power is concentrated in a single authority, such as an absolute monarch.
Divine Right of Kings
Belief that the right to rule comes directly from God and not from the consent of the people.
Heretic
Person who holds beliefs that go against the doctrines established by a dominant religion.
Absolute Monarchy
Form of government where a monarch has total and unrestricted control over the state.
Aristocrat
Person belonging to the upper class or nobility, with inherited privileges.
Policy
Set of principles or guidelines for making decisions and guiding actions in an organization or government.
Laissez-faire
Economic policy that promotes minimal government intervention in economic affairs.
Separation of Powers
Distribution of power among different branches of government to prevent concentration in a single entity.
Social Contract
Theory suggesting that people consent to form a society and follow its rules in exchange for protection and order.
Republic
Form of government in which the head of state is elected and not a hereditary monarch.
Serfdom
System where peasants are obligated to work for a feudal lord and do not have freedom to move.
Subsistence
Economic system in which people produce only what is necessary for their own survival.
Democratic
Governed by the people or their elected representatives.
Amendment
Change or addition to a legal document, such as a constitution.