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U.S. Government > Chapter 1: Principles of Government > Flashcards

Chapter 1: Principles of Government Flashcards

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1
Q

4 purposes of any government

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

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

A
  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
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3
Q

define the word state

A

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)

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4
Q

4 essential features of a state

A
  1. population - people or citizens
  2. territory - land with boundaries
  3. sovereignty - power to rule
  4. government - leadership or organization
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5
Q

4 theories for the origin of the state

A
  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
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6
Q

when was the constitution written

A

1787

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7
Q

what is the first part of the constitution called

A

preamble

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8
Q

what did the founding fathers want for the US

A

a land of liberty

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9
Q

what type of government does the US have

A

federal system/presidential system/democracy

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10
Q

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

A

dictatorship

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11
Q

do you think all present day monarchies are true autocracies?

A

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

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12
Q

an institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies

A

government

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13
Q

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

A

state

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14
Q

three types of government systems (geographic distribution)

A
  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
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15
Q

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

A
  1. parliamentary government

2. presidential government

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16
Q

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

A
  1. autocracy - ruled by 1
  2. oligarchy - ruled by a few
  3. democracy - ruled by many
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17
Q

in a democracy, sovereign power is held by

A

the people

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18
Q

in a dictatorship, sovereign power is held by

A

the dictator

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19
Q

in a democracy, those who rule are responsible to

A

the people

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20
Q

in a dictatorship, those who rule are responsible to

A

no one, only the dictator

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21
Q

in a democracy, power is gained by

A

elections

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22
Q

in a dictatorship, power is gained by

A

force

23
Q

a government in which a single person holds unlimited power

A

autocracy

24
Q

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

A

presidential government

25
Q

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

A

federal government

26
Q

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

A

oligarchy

27
Q

a government in which all power belongs to a central agency

A

unitary government

28
Q

an alliance of independent states

A

confederation

29
Q

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

A

division of powers

30
Q

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

A

parliamentary government

31
Q

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

A

false (this is a federal government)

32
Q

true or false: dictatorships exercise limited authority over the people

A

false (total authority)

33
Q

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

A

false (it is an indirect democracy)

34
Q

a typical way for a dictators to gain power is by

A

force

35
Q

in a democracy, sovereignty is located with

A

the people

36
Q

examples of industrialized nations

A

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

37
Q

examples of newly industrialized nations

A

mexico, south korea, argentina, china

38
Q

examples of developing nations

A

cambodia, el salvador, chile, ethiopia, and somalia

39
Q

interdependence

A

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

40
Q

6 basic concepts of democracy

A
  1. fundamental worth of individual people
  2. the equality of people
  3. majority rule with minority rights
  4. necessity of compromise
  5. individual freedom
41
Q

what are the four factors underlying the free enterprise system

A

private ownership, individual initiative, profit, competition

42
Q

how does the law of supply and demand operate

A

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

43
Q

what is a mixed economy

A

contains private enterprise and government regulation

44
Q

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

A

false

45
Q

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

A

true

46
Q

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

A

true

47
Q

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

A

true

48
Q

which of the following is NOT a basic concept of democracy

A

rights of the minority are not respected

49
Q

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

A

the government must be able to provide services for its citizens

50
Q

what are the roles of government in a mixed economy

A

regulation and promotion

51
Q

6 words to describe US economy

A
  1. capitalism
  2. market
  3. mixed
  4. mixed market
  5. free enterprise
  6. laissez-faire
52
Q

example of a unitary system

A

cuba

53
Q

example of a federal system

A

united states

54
Q

example of a confederation

A

the commonwealth of independent states

U.S. Government (12 decks)

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