Chapter 1: Principles of Government

Question 1

4 purposes of any government

Answer 1

1. maintain order
2. provide services to citizens
3. provide for security of the nation
4. provide economic stability

Question 2

6 purposes of the US government (according to the preamble)

Answer 2

1. form a more perfect union
2. establish justice
3. ensure domestic tranquility
4. provide for the common defense
5. promote the general welfare
6. secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

Question 3

define the word state

Answer 3

a state is a body of people in a defined territory organized politically with the power to make enforced laws without the consent of any other higher authority (sovereignty)

Question 4

4 essential features of a state

Answer 4

1. population - people or citizens
2. territory - land with boundaries
3. sovereignty - power to rule
4. government - leadership or organization

Question 5

4 theories for the origin of the state

Answer 5

1. force theory - a person or small group that have control over an area and forced all of the people in this area to submit to his rule
2. evolution theory - idea that state or countries developed naturally from the early idea of family and the people have to submit to the “father’s” rule
3. divine right theory - idea that a greater power or God created the state and God gave those of royal birth the “divined” right to rule
4. social contract theory - people who interact and who willingly consent to be governed in order to be safe an secure

Question 6

when was the constitution written

Answer 6

1787

Question 7

what is the first part of the constitution called

Answer 7

preamble

Question 8

what did the founding fathers want for the US

Answer 8

a land of liberty

Question 9

what type of government does the US have

Answer 9

federal system/presidential system/democracy

Question 10

North Korea is run by a small group of Communist Party leaders. What type of government does that country have?

Answer 10

dictatorship

Question 11

do you think all present day monarchies are true autocracies?

Answer 11

no, i do not think all present day monarchies are true autocracies because an autocracy is a system of government in which supreme power is concentrated in the hands of one person and this doesn’t describe any of today’s monarchies

Question 12

an institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies

Answer 12

government

Question 13

a group of people who live in a defined territory that is organized politically

Answer 13

state

Question 14

three types of government systems (geographic distribution)

Answer 14

1. unitary system - all power belongs to the central government with a central agency
2. federal system - power is shared between 2 or more levels
3. confederation - union or alliance of independent states

Question 15

two types of government systems (according to relationship between legislative and executive branches)

Answer 15

1. parliamentary government

2. presidential government

Question 16

three types of government systems (according to the number of people who can participate)

Answer 16

1. autocracy - ruled by 1
2. oligarchy - ruled by a few
3. democracy - ruled by many

Question 17

in a democracy, sovereign power is held by

Answer 17

the people

Question 18

in a dictatorship, sovereign power is held by

Answer 18

the dictator

Question 19

in a democracy, those who rule are responsible to

Answer 19

the people

Question 20

in a dictatorship, those who rule are responsible to

Answer 20

no one, only the dictator

Question 21

in a democracy, power is gained by

Answer 21

elections

Question 22

in a dictatorship, power is gained by

Answer 22

force

Question 23

a government in which a single person holds unlimited power

Answer 23

autocracy

Question 24

a government in which the executive and legislative branches are separate and coequal

Answer 24

presidential government

Question 25

a government in which the power is divided between a central government and other local governments

Answer 25

federal government

Question 26

a government in which a small, usually self-appointed, group has the power to rule

Answer 26

oligarchy

Question 27

a government in which all power belongs to a central agency

Answer 27

unitary government

Question 28

an alliance of independent states

Answer 28

confederation

Question 29

structuring a government so that power is shared by a central and several local governments

Answer 29

division of powers

Question 30

a government in which members of the executive branch are also members of the legislative branch and are subject to the legislature's direct control

Answer 30

parliamentary government

Question 31

true or false: in a unitary government, political authority rests in the hands of both central and local governments

Answer 31

false (this is a federal government)

Question 32

true or false: dictatorships exercise limited authority over the people

Answer 32

false (total authority)

Question 33

true or false: the united states federal government is an example of a direct democracy

Answer 33

false (it is an indirect democracy)

Question 34

a typical way for a dictators to gain power is by

Answer 34

force

Question 35

in a democracy, sovereignty is located with

Answer 35

the people

Question 36

examples of industrialized nations

Answer 36

united states, japan, france, great britain, canada, australia

Question 37

examples of newly industrialized nations

Answer 37

mexico, south korea, argentina, china

Question 38

examples of developing nations

Answer 38

cambodia, el salvador, chile, ethiopia, and somalia

Question 39

interdependence

Answer 39

when one nation relies on another nation for one or more things while the other nation relies on that nation for something else

Question 40

6 basic concepts of democracy

Answer 40

1. fundamental worth of individual people 2. the equality of people 3. majority rule with minority rights 4. necessity of compromise 5. individual freedom

Question 41

what are the four factors underlying the free enterprise system

Answer 41

private ownership, individual initiative, profit, competition

Question 42

how does the law of supply and demand operate

Answer 42

when supplies of goods and services are plentiful, the prices drop but when they are scarce, prices start rising

Question 43

what is a mixed economy

Answer 43

contains private enterprise and government regulation

Question 44

true/false: in a democracy, the interests of the few must be elevated above the interests of the many

Answer 44

false

Question 45

true/false: in a democracy, the majority is not always expected to have the right answer

Answer 45

true

Question 46

true/false: the free enterprise system is an economic system, not a political system

Answer 46

true

Question 47

true/false: compromise is vital in decision making process of a democracy

Answer 47

true

Question 48

which of the following is NOT a basic concept of democracy

Answer 48

rights of the minority are not respected

Question 49

which of the following is a justification for taxation in a democracy

Answer 49

the government must be able to provide services for its citizens

Question 50

what are the roles of government in a mixed economy

Answer 50

regulation and promotion

Question 51

6 words to describe US economy

Answer 51

1. capitalism 2. market 3. mixed 4. mixed market 5. free enterprise 6. laissez-faire

Question 52

example of a unitary system

Answer 52

cuba

Question 53

example of a federal system

Answer 53

united states

Question 54

example of a confederation

Answer 54

the commonwealth of independent states