Am Gov Ch 1 - Foundations of Government

What is government?

• the services provided a community, such as police protection, fire protection, and public health programs

• the laws that protect peoples' rights and ensure the safety of a state's citizens

• the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

• the process by which public officials are elected to and removed from office

Which of the following is the best definition of the public policies of a government?

• everything a government decides to do

• everything a government does related to public services

• everything a government does to collect taxes

• everything a government decides to do regarding foreign affairs

Which of these characteristics represents the system a state uses to make and enforce public policy?

• population

• sovereignty

• government

• territory

Which one of these explanations about the origins of states best applies to the type of political system created by the U.S. Constitution?

• force theory

• evolutionary theory

• divine right of kings theory

• social contract theory

Use the Preamble to the Constitution to answer the question.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."—U.S. Constitution, Preamble

Which of the following actions is one example of how the American government establishes justice?

• keeping the peace within the borders of the United States

• creating a set of laws and a court system

• protecting the United States from foreign threats

• establishing safety regulations to protect the public

Use the photo to answer the question.

In which way are the women shown on this poster demonstrating their support for the ideals of American government?

• fighting on the country's behalf overseas

• preserving the freedom of individuals

• displaying patriotism by volunteering to serve the public good

• showing good citizenship by obeying the law

Which of the following examples shows a government exercising its executive powers?

• deciding whether or not a law is constitutional

• .enforcing a new tax law

• .making a law that alters voting requirements

• settling a dispute between two branches of government

This image shows Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, surrounded by his military officers.

Which type of government does Kim Jong-un represent?

• oligarchy

• democracy

• republic

• theocracy

Use this excerpt from the text to answer the question.

"Some people insist the United States is more properly called a republic rather than a democracy."

The people who support this statement argue that the United States is a republic because in its government,

• powers are divided between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

• political power is used indirectly by elected officials, not directly by the citizens themselves.

• power is shared by a central government and many State governments.

• the people do not have the power to influence the decisions made by the government.

If you know that a nation uses a parliamentary system of government, but have no other information, what do you know for certain about the structure of that government?

• who is allowed to participate in the governing process

• the geographic distribution of power in the state

• the relationship between the executive and legislative branches

• that its laws must be collected in a written constitution