Different Types of Government Flashcards
what are the two types of Democracies
direct and indirect
what is a direct democracy
citizens decide about what to do
what is an exaple of a direct democracy
ancient athens
what is an indirect democracy
citizens elect representatives to make the decisions
what are examples of indirect democracies
US, UK
what is an elite democracy
a small minority of well-educated and wealthy make the decisions/vote
what is a pluralist democracy
no single group controls the gov’t. organized groups make the decisions
what are four characteristics of american democracy
- govt attempts to secure equal opportunities
- Based on majority rule, respect for minority rights
- free and open elections
- political parties choose candidates for office
what is a constitutional monarchy
you have a king/ figurehead, but governing is done by an elected body
what are some characteristics of a presidential system
- seperate exec. branch
- exec. and legislative branches are independent and coequal
- powers are in constitution
what are some characteristics of a parliamentary system
- exec branch is part of the legislative branch
- executive is chosen and controlled by legislative branch
- removal by vote of “no confidence”
what is a traditional economy
economy that tends to be rural or second and third world. closely tied to farming/land
what is a command economy
much of economic system is controlled by a central power. core of communist philosophy
what is a market economy
farms and households act in self interest. the direct opposite of a command economy and no government intervention
what is a mixed market economy
combo of different economic systems. cross between command and market. government can get involved in business regulations
what is government
the institution through which a society makes and forms its policies
why is government necessary
maintains order, provides essential services, protection from invasion
what are the four essential features of a state
population, territory, sovereignty, and organized government.
what are the four theories of the origins of government
evolutionary, force, divine right, and social contract theories
what is the evolutionary theory
government evolved from a family group
what is the force theory
one person or group used force to establish authority to govern people
what is the divine right theory
the rulers of the people weer chosen by god(s)
what is the social contract theory
the people gave the gov’t power to rule them in return the government had to respect the people’s rights.
what did thomas hobbes believe in
people are not nice, by nature we are brutes, we need a ruler to make us obey, we dont have the right to eliminate gov’t.
what did john locke believe in
gov’t derives power from the people, gov’t must protect people’s rights to life, liberty, and property, corrupt government should be removed
what is an autocracy
ruled by one person (dictatorship)
what is an oligarchy
rule of the few or by committee
what is a theocracy
rule by religious leaders
what is an anarchy
absence of rule, no effective gov’t
what is democracy
rule of the people, gov’t power limited by people
what is the unitary system
one level of government, national only
what is a confederal system
loose association of free and independent states
what is the federal system
power is shared between national and state and local governments
