Foundations of American Democracy Quiz

Match each statement with the correct item

• social contract theory

• one person inherits throne and heads the state

• state

• states exist to serve their people

• federal system

• national and state governments share power

• monarchy

• community with organized government in a territory

• democracy

• the people rule directly or through representatives

Which of these defines Switzerland as a sovereign state?

• It has a central government that creates laws for the entire nation.

• It has a strict policy of separation of church and state.

• It has different regions defined by different languages.

• It is located in an area that includes some of the Alps.

In 1986 the country of Greece implemented decentralization, dividing the country into regions, each with its own administrative unit. Before 1986, the country of Greece was most likely which of these?

• authoritarian system

• confederacy

• federal system

• unitary system

Thomas Hobbes stated that life would be “nasty, brutish, and short” without a state or government. Which of these functions of government would likely be most important, according to Hobbes?

• Designating state flowers and other items to celebrate states.

• Establishing prisons to hold criminals and reduce crime.

• Passing laws to encourage the expansion of businesses.

• Reducing taxes to allow people to keep more income.

Although Ohio is considered a state, it is different from a country such as Japan, which is also considered a state. What makes Ohio different from Japan?

• Ohio does not have its own organized government.

• Ohio is not characterized by a distinct ethnic group.

• Ohio is not in a defined geographic territory.

• Ohio is subject to laws from another entity.

In a truly democratic society, which of the following happens during an election?

• Citizens are required to vote for the candidate that belongs to their party.

• Citizens vote, but the winner is ultimately decided by a high court.

• The candidate that has been appointed by a political party takes power.

• The elected candidate takes office without violence from the rival party.

Since the writing and approval of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, citizen movements have arisen to change the document. Changes to the Constitution take place through which of these processes?

• amendment

• custom

• political parties

• war

Match each statement with the correct item

• constitution

• establishes the basic structure of government and rights of the people; serves as the supreme law for a country

• confederacy

• united by bonds of race, language, custom, or religion

• nation

• union of sovereign states with a weak central power; abandoned by U.S. in favor of federal system with strong central power