Latin American Government

1. Which statement best compares the governments of Mexico and Cuba?

• Both countries have a president that holds autocratic powers.

• The head of government in Cuba is elected by members of the parliament, but the head of government in Mexico is elected by the citizens of Mexico.

• Both countries are considered democracies because their citizens have many rights and freedoms.

• The citizens of Mexico pay an active role in selecting their head of government, but the citizens of Cuba do not play an active role in selecting their head of government.

2. Which term best describes the government in Brazil?

• Autocracy

• Parliamentary democracy

• Presidential democracy

• Constitutional monarchy

3. Which of the following is a characteristic of a presidential democracy?

• Members of a legislative body choose the head of government.

• Typically, the head of government and the head of state are two different people.

• The head of government holds autocratic power once he/she is elected.

• Citizens directly elect the head of government.

4. Which of the following best describes a citizen's role in an autocracy?

• Citizens do not play an active role in government, and they have few or no rights.

• Citizens elect members to a parliament that choose a Prime Minister.

• Citizens directly a elect a president as head of government.

• Citizens vote in elections and have many rights and freedoms.

5. Which of the following terms best describes the government in Cuba?

• A constitutional monarchy

• A communist autocracy

• A parliamentary democracy

• A presidential democracy

6. Which of the following BEST describes citizen participation in Brazil and Mexico?

• Citizens are forced to join the majority political party.

• Citizens do not have the right to vote in national elections.

• Citizens vote for the legislators who elect the head of government.

• Citizens vote for members of the legislative body and for the head of government (executive branch).

7. Use the information to answer the question: In Country X, the citizens have the right to free speech. In Country Y, the people do not have the right to free speech . Which of the following correctly identifies Country X and Country Y?

• Country X is Brazil; Country Y is Mexico.

• Country X is Mexico; Country Y is Brazil.

• Country X is Cuba; Country Y is Mexico.

• Country X is Brazil; Country Y is Cuba.

Which of the following BEST describes the difference between a presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy?

• In a presidential democracy, citizens get to vote, but in a parliamentary democracy citizens do not have the right to vote.

• In a presidential democracy, the head of government and head of state are usually two different people, but in a parliamentary democracy they are typically the same person.

• In a presidential government, the head of government is a prime minister, but in a parliamentary democracy the head of government is a monarch.

• In a presidential democracy, citizens get to vote for their head of government directly, but in a parliamentary democracy members of the legislative body choose the head of government.

If the government controls all aspects of the economy, and citizens have very few personal rights or freedoms, this best describes which country?

• Cuba

• Mexico

• Canada

• Brazil

What type of government can be found in Mexico?

• Autocracy

• Presidential democracy

• Parliamentary Democracy

• Monarchy