Role of Government Flashcards
Define Anarchy
no government authority resulting in chaos and disorder. (State of Nature)
Define State of Nature/Natural Law
system of justice derived from nature Survival of the fittest (State of Nature)2
Define Social Contract
People agree to follow laws in exchange for protection and order
Define Monarchy
form of government where leader in King or Queen, Two Types
Define Absolute Monarchy
King or Queen has complete control.
Define Constitutional Monarchy
Monarch is figurehead; real power lies with another part of government
Define Democracy
form of government where public is source of authority, Two Types
Define Direct democracy
every citizen votes on every issue
Define Republic democracy
representative democracy
Define dictatorship
form of government where one person, or small group, has total control. Two Types
Define autocracy
Rules by one
Define oligarchy
Ruled by small group
Define theocracy
God is ultimate authority
Define junta
A small group that rules a country after taking it over by force.
Define Declaration of Independence
Letter written to England calling for US to be own country.(by Thomas Jefferson)
What are the four components of a government? Explain each.
State- a region with a population who maintains a government to regulate affairs
Citizens- members of a state
Laws- set of rules made and enforced by a government for society
Sovereignty- idea that government has absolute authority over citizens
What is a citizen?
Members of a state
What is sovereignty?
Idea that government has absolute authority over citizens
Where are the two strongest possibilities for the very 1st governments?
Mesopotamia and Egypt
What is the difference between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional monarchy?
King or Queen has complete control in an absolute monarchy but in a constitutional monarchy the monarch is figurehead; real power lies with another part of government
Identify & explain the benefits of democracy
Every citizen is equal, Equal opportunities, and Voting for government official.
What do most experts feel is the reason humans started settling in permanent residences like Sumeria, or Egypt, creating a need for government? Explain.
People started settling so they could grow plants and had to care for it. Agriculture
Why do we need government?
No government results in chaos and disorder.
Identify the three forms of government found throughout the world? Be able to explain the subsets of each government.
Monarchies
Democracies/Republics
Dictatorship
Compare and contrast the different forms of governments. Give examples of countries that use each.
North Korea has Autocracy (rules by one). America uses Representative Democracy (Citizens elect officials to represent their interests in government).
How do most dictators gain, and maintain, their power? Explain why these strategies are used.
Most dictators gain and maintain their power through violence. These strategies are used because the leader of the dictatorship has all power and can kill anyone who gets in his way.
Who was Thomas Hobbes and what influence did he have on the development of government?
Thomas Hobbes influenced and believed in The Theory of Social Contract People agree to follow laws in exchange for Protection and order.
Who was John Locke and what influence did he have on the development of government?
John Locke influenced and believed in Power comes from people, not God, because it is people who agree to follow laws.
Identify similarities and differences in Hobbes’ and Locke’s ideas on government and humanity.
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke both set the underlying ideals for US.
What is “social contract” and how does it change the relationship between people and their governments?
An agreement between exchange of power for protection.
What is the difference between a right and a privilege?
Right - Something that belongs to all humans.
Privilege - something that is earned.
Where can we find the first mention of American rights and what are they?
Declaration of Independence.
What was the Declaration of Independence and what did it do?
Letter written to England calling for US to be own country.(by Thomas Jefferson). Lists Natural Rights - rights that belong to all human beings.
Description of the 4 Functions of Government. Include examples of these functions being carried out.
Maintain Order(use of military, police, National Guard, laws, etc.), Provide Services(education, health care and services, waste managment, etc.) , Resolve Conflict(use of military, police, court system), Promote Values(public education, drugs, disease, health awarness, and patriotism)
Discuss 2 possible outcomes if there were no governments
Anarchy - no government authority resulting in chaos and disorder. (State of Nature)
Natural Law - system of justice derived from nature Survival of the fittest (State of Nature)
Description of the 3 forms of government.
Monarchy - form of government where leader in King or Queen
Democracy - form of government where public is source of authority
Dictatorship - form of government where one person, or small group, has total control.
Explanation of which form of gov’t you feel is best and why.
- Include the type of government in your explanation.
I think that democracy is the best form of government because everyone should have a choice. I believe that everyone should be treated equally and the form of government that supports that the most is democracy.
Example – Democracy – do you prefer direct or representative?
I prefer representative democracy over direct democracy because I feel like voting on every law would be very complicated and voting would be our whole lives.
