Chapter One- Principles Of Government

Question 1

Essential Features of a State (4)

Answer 1

• Population
• Territory
• Sovereignty
• Government

Question 2

Purposes of Government (4)

Answer 2

• Maintain Social Order
• Provide Public Services
• Provide National Security
• Make Economic Decisions

Question 3

How do governments derive their power? (2)

Answer 3

• Legitimacy (Consent of Governed)

- Ability to use coercive force

Question 4

Government Systems (and definition) (2)

Answer 4

• Unitary: national government has all the power; may delegate to some states.
• Federal: power is divided between national and state governments.

Question 5

The word “Federal”s two meanings

Answer 5

• Federal as in federalism. Power is divided between the nation and the states.
• Pertaining to a nation (country) rather than a state.

Question 6

Constitution Definition

Answer 6

-A plan that provides the rules for government.

Question 7

Constitutions Purposes (3)

Answer 7

• Describes country’s ideals.
• Establishes the structure of the government.
• Supreme law of the land.
  (May be written or unwritten)

Question 8

Constitutional Government Definition

Answer 8

• Limited government; constitution has the authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern. Not totalarian.

Question 9

Constitutions… (3)

Answer 9

• Are always incomplete
• Usually have a preamble/ sets forth goals and purposes of government.
• Are divided into articles and sections.

Question 10

Government Definition

Answer 10

• Institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces binding decisions on citizens.

Question 11

Politics Definition

Answer 11

• Effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government.

Question 12

Special Interests Definition

Answer 12

• Groups with a particular agenda that try to influence politics.

Question 13

Constitutional Law Definition

Answer 13

• Involves interpretation and application of the constitution, which is the “supreme law of the lands”.

Question 14

Major types of Government (10)

Answer 14

• Autocracy
• Totalarian
• Dictatorship
• Absolute Monarchy
• Constitutional Monarchy
• Oligarchy Democracy
• Democracy
• Direct Democracy
• Representational Democracy
• Republic

Question 15

Characteristics of Democracy (4)

Answer 15

• Individual Liberty
• Majority Rule with Minority rights
• Free Elections
• Competing Political Parties

Question 16

Conditions Necessary for Democracy (5)

Answer 16

• Active Citizen Participation
• Favorable Economy
• Widespread Education
• Strong Civil Society
• Social Consensus

Question 17

Capitalism Definition

Answer 17

• An economic system in which freedom of choice and individual incentive for workers, investors, consumers, and business enterprises are emphasized.

Question 18

Free Market Definition

Answer 18

• Means that the government places no limit on freedom of buyers and sellers to make economic decisions.

Question 19

Laissez Faire Definition

Answer 19

• Means to “let alone” in French. The market would act as an “invisible hand” funding economic choices the best possible results.

Question 20

What are the ECONOMIC differences between Socialism and Capitalism (2 each)

Answer 20

Socialism

• planned/command economy
• public ownership of means of production

Capitalism

• market economy
• private ownership

Question 21

What are the POLITICAL differences between Socialism and Capitalism (3 each)

Answer 21

Socialism

• single party system
• repressive govt
• criticism and opposition not tolerated

Capitalism

• two party system
• individual freedoms
• right to criticize and oppose state

Question 22

Democratic Socialism Definition

Answer 22

• Democratic political system with partly socialist economic system.