Chapter 1 Quiz: Principles of Government

What are the four defining characteristics of a state?

• a leader, a legislature, a court system, and a military force

• the force theory, the evolutionary theory, the divine right theory, and the social contract theory

• liberty, justice, laws, and a constitution

• population, territory, sovereignty, and government

Because the United States is a sovereign state, it

• can impose its will on all other nations of the world.

• is subordinate to a higher international authority.

• is made up of fifty smaller sovereign states.

• can determine its own form of government.

Based on the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, which of the following is the best summary of the purpose of the government of the United States?

• to make the United States the most powerful nation in the world

• to preserve the liberty and rights of the people

• to stay out of people's lives as much as possible

• To tightly control people's lives and behavior so that there would be peace, prosperity, and total equality

Scholars who believe the state originated from one person or a small group claiming control over an area and making people in that area submit to their rule support the __________ theory.

• force

• evolutionary

• divine right

• social contract

Which theory of the origin of the state most strongly influenced the formation of the government of the United States?

• force theory

• evolutionary theory

• divine right theory

• social contract theory

In what way is modern democracy a challenge to the divine right theory?

• Modern democracy is based on the idea that the state developed naturally out of a tribal or family-based system.

• Both modern democracy and the divine right theory state that God created the state, but modern democracy requires a separation of church and state.

• Modern democracy is based on the idea that the people have the right to govern themselves, whereas the divine right theory states that God gave those of royal birth the right to rule.

• Those who created modern democracy wanted common people to become kings and queens; so they challenged the divine right theory, which held that only those of noble birth could rule.

Who holds the supreme authority in a democracy?

• the people

• a single person

• the courts

• the military

In a __________, there is an absolute ruler who is not held responsible to the will of the people.

• government

• dictatorship

• democracy

• constitution

Representative Democracy

• Led by representatives of the voters. Each is individually chosen for a set period of time.

• Government owns many of the larger industries and provide education, health and welfare services while allowing citizens some economic choices.

• Government owns all businesses and farms and provides its people healthcare, education, and welfare. Political and Economic theory derived from the ideas of Karl Marx.

• The government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote, which is a majority of the population, has a chance to have their say over who runs the country.

Oligarchy

• A form of government which consists of rule by an elite group who rule in their own interests. Especially the accumulation of wealth and privilege.

• A system of government by one person with absolute power.

• Rule by a single leader who has not been elected and may use force to keep control.

• Government owns all businesses and farms and provides its people healthcare, education, and welfare. Political and Economic theory derived from the ideas of Karl Marx.