I. Introductory Vocabulary

Question 1

What is the state?

Answer 1

The basic political unit in the world today.

Question 2

What are the features of The State?

Answer 2

1) Population
2) Territory
3) Sovereignty (power)
4) Government

Question 3

What are the types of states?

Answer 3

1) Unitary
2) Federal
3) Confederate

Question 4

What is UNITARY? And where is it usually found?

Answer 4

Almost all power is located within national government.

Usually found in

a) small to medium sized compact countries
b) countries where everyone is the same (like ethnicity)

Question 5

What is FEDERAL? And where is it usually found?

Answer 5

• 50-50 power shared between national and smaller units of government
• Usually found in

a) large land countries
b) ethnically mixed/diverse states

Question 6

What is CONFEDERATE? And where is it usually found?

Answer 6

• Almost all power with smaller units of government
• Usually found in large geographic states with regionally placed ethnicities

(Usually not very effective)

Question 7

What is a government? And what does it do?

Answer 7

The government is the engine that makes the state run!

It
• Maintains Social Order
• National Security/Defense
• Social Services
• Infrastructure

Question 8

What is the constitution?

Answer 8

A basic plan for the government

That:

• Is the highest form of law
• May be written or unwritten
• May be infallible or just a “statement of purpose”

Question 9

Types of Constitutions?

Answer 9

1) Republic
2) Monarchy
3) Constitutional Monarchy

Question 10

What is a Republic Constitution?

Answer 10

a) all citizens are socially equal

b) elected representatives govern on behalf of the people

Question 11

What is a Monarchy?

Answer 11

• Selected families have higher social status and run the government

Question 12

What is a Constitutional Monarchy?

Answer 12

• select family has higher social status, but power limited by the people

Question 13

What is politics?

Answer 13

• struggle among people to control power

Question 14

What are the types of power?

Answer 14

1) Autocracy: Single strong ruler (Dictatorship)
2) Oligarchy: Select group of people (Dictatorship)
3) Democracy: Power rests with the people

Question 15

Types of Democracies

Answer 15

• Direct democracy: People directly make decisions for themselves
• Representative (or indirect) Democracy: People elect others to make decisions on their behalf

Question 16

Characteristics of a Representative Democracy

Answer 16

1. Personal Liberty
2. Respect for the Individual
3. Equally for Opportunity
4. Popular Consent (Majority Rule)
5. Free & Fair Elections
6. Freedom of Expression
7. Right to assemble/protest

Question 17

Democratic and Republican Party

Answer 17

Democratic: They believe that the federal government should take a more active role in people’s lives, particularly those who are in need. (Liberal)

Republican: They believe that the federal government should not play a big role in people’s lives. (Conservative)

Question 18

Green and Libertarian Party

Answer 18

Green: promotes environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice. Etc.

Libertarian: non-interventionism, laissez-faire capitalism and the abolition of the welfare state.

Question 19

American Independent/ Peace and Freedom Party

Answer 19

American Independent: limited constitutional government with emphasis on the rights of the several states to govern their own local affairs and educational systems. (Far right)

Peace and Freedom: committed to socialism, democracy, ecology, feminism and racial equality.
(Left wing)

Question 20

What is capitalism?

Answer 20

Private ownership of production

Question 21

Types of Capitalism

Answer 21

1. Laissez-Faire (Libertarianism): No government intervention in the economy
2. Mixed Market: Some gov. intervention

Question 22

What is socialism?

Answer 22

economic production is owned by the public

Question 23

Types of socialism

Answer 23

1. Communism (Marxist-Leninism): all industry is owned by the state
2. Democratic Socialism: “Key” industries are owned by the state. Government guarantees you a minimal quality of life.

Question 24

What is fascism (nationalism)?

Answer 24

• State direction and planning of the economy but maintains capitalism
• usually found when government and the military are intertwined