Types of Government Quiz

Which of the following describes a unitary system of government?

• A country in which the central government holds all the power

• A federal arrangement of central government and states

• The United States under the Articles of Confederation

• Independent legislatures in several provinces

Use the quotation to answer the question: "But as the plan of the [Constitutional] convention aims only at a partial union or consolidation, the State governments would clearly retain all the rights of sovereignty which they before had, and which were not, by that act, EXCLUSIVELY delegated to the United States." —Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper No. 32. What form of government is being described?

• confederal

• unitary

• parliamentary

• federal

What would be considered an advantage of the government on the right?

• There are fewer disagreements over public policy

• It is able to act more quickly in a crisis or emergency

• It provides better safeguards for protecting individual rights

• Members of the government are able to meet with foreign officials

Which statement is true of a federal but not of a unitary system of government?   

• Its local government cannot be abolished by the central government

• Its central government usually appoints the leaders of local government

• Its central government delegates responsibilities to local governments to carry out

• Its local government are extensions of the central government

The passage below describes the government of Saudi Arabia: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is divided politically into thirteen provinces. Each is headed by an emir who is appointed by the King and who answers to the Ministry of the Interior. These 13 provinces are further divided into 118 governorates headed by local mayors. The provinces are created by the King's authority and can be eliminated at any time." Based on this passage, which system of government does the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have?

• unitary

• federal

• oligarchy

What is an advantage of the federal system of government in balancing local sovereignty with national unity?

• In this system, local governments can leave the nation at any time because they are sovereign.

• In this system, national unity is secure because the national government exercises complete control over local governments.

• In this system, freedom is protected because local governments have sovereignty over the national government in all matters.

• In this system, the national government is strong enough to protect the nation but local governments prevent it from becoming authoritarian.

Why did the authors of the Constitution create a federal system of government rather than a unitary system?

• They did not trust the state governments.

• They feared a central government that was too powerful.

• They wanted to limit the role of the people in government.

• They had seen how inefficient a weak central government was under the Articles of Confederation.

Which of these countries has a federal system of government?

• Country 1 only

• Country 2 only

• Countries 1 and 2

• Countries 2 and 3

In Mexico, power is shared between the national government, 31 state governments, and Mexico City. Which system of government does Mexico have?

• Unitary

• Federal

• Confederal

• Parliamentary

Based on the passage, which system of government does France have?

• Unitary

• Federal

• Autocratic

• Confederal