Autocracies and Democracies

Which statement BEST describes a presidential democracy?

• dictator holds all political power
• The legislative body chooses the head of government
• A small group runs the government
• The citizens vote for the head of government of the country directly

Which government is an autocracy?

• Where both the president and legislators are elected by citizens

• Where one person is president for life and citizens do not choose who will lead the country

• Where religious communities select representatives who lead the country and religion

How are the roles of citizens different in modern autocracies and democracies?

• Citizens directly elect the head of government in democracies, but the legislature elects the head of government in autocracies.

• Citizens directly elect the head of government in autocracies, but the legislature elects the head of government in democracies.

• Citizens choose the government's leaders in democracies, but have no role in choosing leaders in autocracies.

Who chooses the head of government in a presidential democracy?

• the military

• the citizens

• the judiciary

Who chooses the head of government in a parliamentary democracy?

• the legislature

• the citizens

• the military

What is one key difference between parliamentary and presidential democracies?

• Citizens elect the chief executive in presidential democracies. Legislators elect the chief executive in parliamentary democracies.

• Citizens elect the chief executive in parliamentary democracies. Legislators elect the chief executive in presidential democracies.

• In presidential democracies, citizens play no role in selecting their nation's leaders. In parliamentary democracies, all leaders are elected by citizens.

Who makes the most of the important governmental decisions in an autocracy?

• The ruler

• the people

• the court system

The leader of a parliamentary system is chosen by

• the monarch

• the popular vote of people

• the political party with the most representatives in the legislature.

The Head of State in a parliamentary system is often a person who has

• no power

• a ceremonial role without much power

• the most power

In a presidential democracy, how is the president chosen?

• by a decision of national courts

• by a majority vote of the legislature

• in a separate vote from the one that chooses the legislature