Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

American Government > Chapter 1- Government > Flashcards

Chapter 1- Government Flashcards

(50 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the difference between power and authority?

A

Power- the ability to impose one’s will on another

Authority- the source of a government’s legitimacy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the two purposes for government?

A

Provide for wants and needs

Provide limits for people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define law

A

Rules of action to which people are obligated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

List four characteristics of a state

A

Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is sovereignty?

A

Supreme power within its own territory, neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Explain the origin of a state according to Divine Right theory

A

State created by God. Rulers given right to rule by God.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Explain the origin of a state according to Force theory

A

States exist because of human desire to be in power and dominate others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Explain the origin of a state according to Evolutionary theory

A

State evolves from families, tribes, clans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Explain the origin of a state according to Social Contract theory

A

People join together
Give authority of people to state
State serves interest of people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which theory on the origin of states best explains the origin of the USA?

A

Social Contract

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe where power is exercised from in a Unitary state

A

Power is centralized

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe where power is exercised from in a Federal state

A

Power is divided

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe where power is exercised from in a Confederate state

A

Power is decentralized

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

In which form of government is the chief executive chosen by the legislative branch, from their own membership?

A

Parliamentary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

In which form of government are the chief executive and legislative branch chosen independently?

A

Presidential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

In a parliamentary form of government, the chief executive is known as the ____ ______.

A

Prime Minister

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

In a presidential form of government, the chief executive is known as the ________.

A

President

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

In a parliamentary form of government, name three occasions when elections may be held

A

Regular schedule
“Vote of Confidence” where Parliament votes against Prime Minister
“Dissolve Government” where Prime Minister calls new election

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

In a presidential form of government, when are elections held?

A

Only regular schedule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe three characteristics of a government where few rule

A 
Force is source of power
Ruler responsible to few or none
Government may have unlimited power
Few/no rights
Opposition suppressed/one party
No meaningful elections
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe three characteristics of a government where many rule

Study These Flashcards
A 
People are the source of power
Ruler responsible to ruled
Government has limited process
Rights guaranteed
Opposition encouraged 
Regular, competitive elections
22
Q

How did Lincoln define democracy?

Study These Flashcards
A

Of the people
By the people
For the people

23
Q

What is a synonym for representative government?

24
Q

Explain the principle of democracy: worth of the individual

Study These Flashcards
A

Each person, regardless if wealth or position in society, must be recognized as a member of that society

25
Explain the principle of democracy: majority rule, minority rights
Any group that gains a majority of the votes rules, but they must allow the rest of the group to exist and offer alternatives and criticism
26
Explain the principle of democracy: necessity of compromise
All sides on an issue of public policy must work to achieve an agreement that does the most good for the most people
27
Explain the principle of democracy: equality of all persons
All persons should be treated the same in cases of law and opportunity for advancement
28
What is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies?
Government
29
Define government
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
30
What are "rules of action to which people are obligated"?
Laws
31
What is supreme power within its own territory, neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority
Sovereignty
32
What is defined by population, territory, sovereignty, and government?
State
33
States were created by God, royalty was given right to rule by God describes which theory on the origin of states?
Divine Right
34
In which form of government may elections only be held at regularly scheduled intervals, since the executive and legislative branches are independent and coequal?
Presidential
35
States are born because of the human tendency to seek power and dominate others describes which theory on the origin of states?
Force
36
States evolved from families into tribes, then clans, then states describes which theory on the origin of states?
Evolutionary
37
What are "rules of action to which people are obligated"?
Law
38
Which theory on the origin of states says that the state is created by the people, that people voluntarily submit to rule of government they create, that people must give up certain freedoms,and that government rules to serve needs and wants of people?
Social Contract
39
Force is source of power, Ruler responsible to few or none, Government may have unlimited powers, Few/no rights, Opposition suppressed/one party system, No meaningful elections are characteristics of rule by the ___.
Few
40
People are source of power, Ruler responsible to ruled, Government has limited powers, Rights are guaranteed, Opposition is encouraged/multiparty system, Regular, competitive elections are characteristics of rule by the ____.
Many
41
Who defined representative democracy (or a republic) as "Government of the people, by the people, for the people".
Lincoln
42
The basic principle of democracy that states that each person, regardless of wealth or position in society, must be recognized and respected by all of society as a member of society, is _____ __ ___ __________.
Worth of the individual
43
The basic principle of democracy that states that any group that can gain half plus one of the vote rules, but that they must allow the rest of the group to exist, and offer alternatives and criticism, is _________ ____, ___________ ______.
Majority Rule, Minority Rights
44
The basic principle of democracy that states that all people must be able to hold and practice their own beliefs within the limits of not violating the rights of others to also hold and practice their own beliefs, is _________ _______.
Individual freedom
45
The basic principle of democracy that states that all sides on an issue of public policy must work to achieve an agreement that does the most good for the most people, is _________ __ __________.
Necessity of Compromise
46
The basic principle of democracy that states that all people should be treated the same in cases of law and opportunity for advancement, is ______ __ ___ _______.
Equality of all persons
47
In which form of government may elections be held if the legislature loses confidence in the executive, if the executive loses confidence in the legislature, or at regularly scheduled intervals?
Parliamentary
48
Explain the principle of democracy: individual freedom
All persons must be able to hold and practice their own beliefs, within the limits of not violating the rights of others to also hold and practice their own beliefs
49
What is a government's ability to impose its will on another through the capacity for force or influence?
Power
50
What is the term for the source of government's legitimacy?
Authority

American Government (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions