Chapter 1- Principles Of Government

Question 1

What is Government?

Answer 1

The institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies

Question 2

What are public policies?

Answer 2

All those things a government decides to do

Question 3

What is Governments purpose/role?

Answer 3

Ancient Greeks- “to improve the lives of its citizens”

Dec of Ind says “to protect the rights of its citizens “unalienable rights (life liberty and the pursuit of happiness)

Question 4

Where does the governments power come from?

Answer 4

God
Force
People

Question 5

Is government good/bad or even necessary

Answer 5

YES YES AND YES

Question 6

What are the 5 forms of government?

Answer 6

Anarchy- no government
Dictatorship/Monarchy- power rests with one person/state- rule not responsible to the will of the people
Oligarchy- rule by a small group or a few
Democracy- rule by the people majority
Republic- rule by the law

Question 7

What three types of power is the government given? And who are they granted by?

Answer 7

Legislative power- make law-Congress
Executive power- enforce law-President
Judicial power- interpret law-Supreme Court
These powers are granted to the government by the nations
Constitution-fundamental laws est principles of government

Question 8

Who is the dominant political unit of the world?

Answer 8

The State

Question 9

What is the state commonly referred to as?

Answer 9

A country or a nation

Question 10

What are the four characteristics of a State?

Answer 10

Population- people
Territory/border- land
Sovereignty-supreme power
Central government- politically organized

Question 11

What are the four theories of how the state came to be?

Answer 11

Force Theory- state was born out of force
Evolutionary Theory- state came out of the family stages of development 1.Family 2.Clan 3.Tribe=state
Divine Right Theory- God have a certain group the right to rule
Social Contract Theory- Free people have the state ad much power as needed to promote the safety and well-being of all

Question 12

What is the Purpose of Government? (6)

Answer 12

Form a more perfect union-strength in union
Establish justice- the law must be reasonable fair and impartial
Insure domestic tranquility- provide law and order at home
Provide for common defense- defends against foreign enemies
Promote the general welfare- provides services such as EPA FDA Post office Public schools, etc
Secure the blessings of liberty-guarantees freedom for the individual
*No two governments are or have been exactly alike

Question 13

What is a democracy? And what are the two types?

Answer 13

All can participate
Direct- themselves
Indirect- through their representatives

Question 14

What is a Dictatorship? And what are the two types?

Answer 14

One person or a small group can participate
Autocracy- single person holds power
Oligarchy- ruled by a small group

*

Question 15

All dictatorships are___________

Some are______________

Answer 15

All dictatorships are authoritarian- the state has all
Political power
Some dictatorships are totalitarian- the state has total power over every aspect of the people life

Question 16

Recite the Preamble to the Constitution

Answer 16

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Question 17

What is the constitution?

Answer 17

Fundamental laws that establish principles of government

Question 18

What is unitary Government?

Answer 18

Power lies in the hands of a single central agency

Example Great Britain

Question 19

Federal Government?

Answer 19

Power is shared equally by the central government and the local agencies
Example USA

Question 20

Confederate Government?

Answer 20

Power is given to the local agencies only

Examples Confederate States of America/Articles of Confederation

Question 21

What is the Presidential relationship between legislative and executive branches?

Answer 21

Leg/exec branches are independent and co equal

Question 22

What is the Parliamentarian relationship between the legislative and the executive branches?

Answer 22

Executive (prime minister) is chosen and controlled by the legislative branch

Question 23

What are the four basic notions of the American concept of democracy?

Answer 23

1. Equality of all Persons- equality of opportunity and equality before the law
2. Worth of the Individual- we are separate and distinct beings
3. Majority Rule, Minority Rights- the minority can become the majority, the minority has rights
4. Necessity of Compromise-there are two sides to everything
5. Individual Freedom- we have rights but they are not complete

Question 24

Who is a citizen?

Answer 24

One who holds certain rights and responsibilities within a state

Question 25

What are the duties of a citizen (required)?

Answer 25

1. Obey laws
2. Go to school
3. Pay taxes
4. Responsibilities- strongly encouraged
   a. Vote
   b. Community volunteering
   c. Running for office

Question 26

America’s commitment to freedom is based and rooted in our__________

Answer 26

Economic System

Question 27

What is free enterprise? What are the four ideas?

Answer 27

Capitalism 
American economic system that is based on four fundamental ideas
1. Private ownership
2. Individual Initiative 
3. Profit 
4. Competition (life blood)
5. Supply and demand

Question 28

What is the Governments main role in the US economy?

Answer 28

To protect and preserve free enterprise