Types of Government

What do an absolute monarchy, dictatorship, and oligarchy have in common?

• The head of state is chosen by Parliament.

• Their citizens decide public issues for themselves.

• Political power is exercised by representative elected by the people.

• A single individual or small group exercises control over government.

Which type of government selects its executive leadership from the majority party in the legislature?

• Unitary

• Federal

• Confederal

• Parliamentary

The Venn diagram above compares two forms of monarchy. Which might be considered an advantage of the type of monarchy shown on the right (absolute monarchy)?

• It can negotiate peace treaties.

• It can act more quickly in a crisis.

• It provides stronger guarantees of individual rights.

• Its representatives can meet with foreign dignitaries.

Which statement is true of a federal but not of a unitary system of government?

• Its local governments are extensions of the central government.

• Its local governments cannot be abolished by the central government.

• Its central government usually appoints the leaders of local governments.

• Is central government delegates responsibilities to local governments to carry out.

The table compares the parliamentary and presidential forms of government. Which statement completes the table? (The Prime Minister is the head of the executive branch under a parliamentary system).

• The Prime Minister is chosen by the monarch.

• The Prime Minister is chosen by the President.

• The Prime Minister is directly elected by voters.

• The Prime Minister is chosen by a majority party of Parliament.

Based on the table, in which country is power held by a single person or small group?

• Syria

• India

• South Korea

• Mexico

Based on the table, how are the governments of Syria, Mexico, and Brazil similar?

• All three governments are party dictatorships.

• All three governments are ruled by popular representatives.

• All three governments have separate executive and legislative branches.

• All three central governments have complete power over local government.

Why did the authors of the Constitution create a federal system of government rather than a unitary system?

• They wanted to limit the role of the people in government.

• They did not trust the state governments.

• They had seen how inefficient a weak central government was under the Articles of Confederation.

• They feared a central government that was too powerful.

The diagram represents three types of government. Which list correctly identifies the three types of governments in the diagram?

• Unitary; 2. Federal; 3. Confederal

• Federal; 2. Presidential; 3. Unitary

• Monarchical; 2. Parliamentary; 3. Communist

• Communist; 2. Democratic; 3. Monarchical

The statements below describe a speaker’s system of government.

"The head of our government is a king. Our king inherited his authority from his father.

Under which form of government does this speaker live?

• Monarchy

• Democracy

• Socialism

• Oligarchy