Foundations of Government

Question 1

Functions of Government

Answer 1

1. Maintain order
2. Provide services
3. Resolve conflict
4. Promote values

Question 2

The basic question or problem involving governments is

Answer 2

Power

Question 3

These can be used interchangeably

Answer 3

Democracy and Republic

Question 4

Monarch

Answer 4

Head of state is a hereditary position such as a king or queen

Question 5

Constitutional monarchy

Answer 5

Has a monarch without true power acting as a ceremonial head of state

Question 6

Republic (democracy)

Answer 6

People are the source of authority. Government is made up of elected representatives. Most decisions are made by majority rule and citizens partake in the lawmaking process

Question 7

Dictatorship

Answer 7

Political and military power, wealth, and social position are the source of leaders authority
Most have used the military as their source of power

Question 8

Totalitarian government

Answer 8

Government that tightly controls all aspects of life including political social and economic

Question 9

Theocracy

Answer 9

Government under the rule of a small group of religious leaders

Question 10

Unitary system

Answer 10

Central government holds all legal power. Local government carries all decisions of central government

Question 11

Federal system

Answer 11

National, state, and local levels share power. Policies are made by representatives. Power is divided equally among all states. A citizen must obey local ordinances as well as state and federal laws.

Question 12

Confederal system

Answer 12

Independent states join together. Loose union with real power belong to the states.

Question 13

Presidential system

Answer 13

An elected president heads the executive branch which is independent of other branches. Each branch checks the power of other branches

Question 14

Parliamentary system

Answer 14

A prime minister or a premier is appointed by the legislative branch which can also remove the official

Question 15

Policy

Answer 15

Any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular goal

Question 16

State

Answer 16

Political unit with the power to make enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory

Question 17

Sovereignty

Answer 17

Supreme power to act within its territory and to control its external affairs

Question 18

Politics

Answer 18

Process by which government makes and carries out decisions

Question 19

Legitimacy

Answer 19

Right and proper

Authority to rule

Question 20

Divine right of kings

Answer 20

Theory that a monarch rules by the sanction, or approval, of God

Question 21

Oligarchy

Answer 21

Ruled by a few small groups of people, usually members of the military or the economic elite

Question 22

Ideal

Answer 22

Conception of something in its most perfect form

Question 23

Liberty

Answer 23

Ability of people to act and think as they choose, so long as their choices do not harm the liberty or well-being of others

Question 24

Equality

Answer 24

Principle that all people possess a fundamental moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment under the law and equal opportunity in aspects of life

Question 25

Self-government

Answer 25

Belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and to do so as political equals

Question 26

Majority rule

Answer 26

Basic principle of democracy that decisions are made by a majority, by getting more than half of the votes cast

Question 27

Minority rights

Answer 27

Political rights held by groups who make up less than half of the population

Question 28

Liberal democracy

Answer 28

Form of democracy where individual rights and liberties of all people, including those in the minority, are protected

Question 29

Government

Answer 29

An institution with the power to make and enforce rules for a people