Unit#1 Principles of Government

Question 1

government

Answer 1

institution created by society to create and enforce public policy

Question 2

protection

Answer 2

a government protects society against outside enemies; one of the five purposes of government.

Question 3

order

Answer 3

a government maintains order among the members of society; one of the five purposes of government

Question 4

conflict resolution

Answer 4

a government helps resolve disputes; one of the five purposes of government

Question 5

economic stability

Answer 5

a government exercises some degree of control over the economy; one of the five purposes of government

Question 6

public services

Answer 6

a government provides items the public needs; one of the five purposes of government

Question 7

force theory

Answer 7

says that an individual or small group used force (or violence or the threat of violence) to gain control of people; the people will be forced to submit to their will.

Question 8

evolution theory

Answer 8

says that the first government evolved naturally from the family

Question 9

divine right theory

Answer 9

says that the right to rule was divine or came directly from God

Question 10

social contract theory

Answer 10

says that society and government enter into a contract explaining what the government could and could not do; the right to rule comes from the people

Question 11

power

Answer 11

ability to make people do what you want

Question 12

authority

Answer 12

legitimate use of power

Question 13

legitimacy

Answer 13

when people accept that the government should have power

Question 14

sovereignty

Answer 14

the supreme and ultimate power or authority within a territory

Question 15

elitist theory

Answer 15

in any society, only a small group of people hold power

Question 16

pluralist theory

Answer 16

in any society a large number of people hold power

Question 17

Karl Marx’s theory

Answer 17

the elites are those who control the economy

Question 18

C. Write Mills’ theory

Answer 18

the elites are those who control the economy, the government, and the military

Question 19

Max Weber’s theory

Answer 19

the elites are bureaucrats

Question 20

democracy

Answer 20

rule by the people

Question 21

dictatorship

Answer 21

people have no power, government leaders cannot be stopped by the people, the law, or constitution

Question 22

direct democracy

Answer 22

all people have a direct say in how they are governed, everyone votes on all of the laws

Question 23

indirect democracy

Answer 23

the people elect representatives who run the government

Question 24

autocracy

Answer 24

one person holds all of the power

Question 25

oligarchy

Answer 25

a few people hold the power

Question 26

totalitarian government

Answer 26

government that has complete and total control over all aspects of people’s lives

Question 27

limited government

Answer 27

government has less power; allows people and business a great deal of freedom

Question 28

anarchy

Answer 28

government does not exist; no laws or order

Question 29

unitary or centralized government

Answer 29

the power of the government is centralized into one place like a large capital city

Question 30

federal government

Answer 30

power of the government is divided between a central government an many smaller governments

Question 31

confederate government

Answer 31

power is spread out among several geographic centers; may have a central government, but it is not powerful

Question 32

parliamentary government

Answer 32

strong legislative branch; executive branch is selected directly from the legislative branch

Question 33

presidential government

Answer 33

executive branch and legislative branches are separate; members of the executive branch are not members of the legislative branch

Question 34

popular sovereignty

Answer 34

government by the consent, or approval, of the people