topic1

Question 1

What is a State?

Answer 1

A political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from a higher authority.

Question 2

What is a Nation?

Answer 2

An independent state or country; a sizable group of people united by a common bond of race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes religion.

Question 3

What is a Nation-state?

Answer 3

A term often used to describe a country where the territorial boundaries of a nation and state are generally the same.

Question 4

What are the features of a State?

Answer 4

1. Population: Stable governments have a population with consensus about basic beliefs.
2. Territory: States have established boundaries that can change due to war, negotiations, or purchase.
3. Sovereignty: A state has supreme and absolute authority within its territory.
4. Government: Organized structure to enforce laws.

Question 5

What is the Evolutionary Theory?

Answer 5

The theory that government evolved through the family.

Question 6

What is the Force Theory?

Answer 6

The theory that government developed when all people of an area were brought under the control of one person or group out of necessity.

Question 7

What is the Divine Right Theory?

Answer 7

The theory that God or gods have chosen certain people to rule by divine right, making opposition to these leaders opposition to God.

Question 8

What is the Social Contract Theory?

Answer 8

A theory that began to challenge Divine Right in the 1600s, proposing that people consent to give authority to the government.

Question 9

What did Thomas Hobbes believe?

Answer 9

Hobbes believed people are naturally cruel and should surrender to the state to maintain order; the state must protect citizens.

Question 10

What did John Locke believe?

Answer 10

Locke believed people have the right to life, liberty, and property, and can break contracts if the government fails to preserve those rights.

Question 11

What are the functions of government?

Answer 11

1. Form a more perfect union.
2. Establish justice.
3. Insure domestic tranquility.
4. Provide for a common defense.
5. Promote the general welfare.
6. Secure the blessings of liberty.

Question 12

What is Autocracy?

Answer 12

Rule by one person, where power is inherited or taken by force.

Question 13

What is Oligarchy?

Answer 13

Rule by a few persons; a small group holds power.

Question 14

What is Democracy?

Answer 14

Rule by many persons, where the supreme power is vested in the people.

Question 15

What is Direct Democracy?

Answer 15

A form of democracy where people govern themselves by voting on issues individually.

Question 16

What is Representative Democracy?

Answer 16

A form of democracy where people elect representatives to make laws and conduct government.

Question 17

What are key characteristics of democracy?

Answer 17

Majority rule with minority rights, insistence on individual freedom, compromise, and free and open elections.

Question 18

What is a Unitary System?

Answer 18

A system that gives all power to the national or central government, which can delegate power to local governments.

Question 19

What is a Federal System?

Answer 19

A system where power is shared between federal and local governments.

Question 20

What is a Confederation?

Answer 20

A loose union of independent states.

Question 21

What is a Republic?

Answer 21

A government system where public policies are made by officials elected by the people.