Latin America Government & Economics TEST REVIEW

Tommy lives in a Latin American country where the leaders of the government are elected by the people for a specific length of time. The leaders are expected to represent the interests and wishes of citizens. What type of government would BEST describe the one where Tommy lives?

• Presidential Democracy

• Communist Dictatorship

• Constitutional Monarchy

• Parliamentary Democracy

Answer explanation

Tommy's government is a Presidential Democracy because leaders are elected by the people for a specific term and are expected to represent citizens' interests, which aligns with democratic principles.

In Patrick’s country, the president is very powerful.  There is a senate in which citizens are elected to serve, but it can only advise the president.  The president makes all decisions and controls the civilian government and the military. What type of government is Patrick’s country?

• It’s a parliamentary democracy

• It’s an autocratic government

• It’s an oligarchic government

• It’s a presidential democracy

Answer explanation

Patrick’s country is an autocratic government because the president holds all power, makes decisions unilaterally, and the senate only advises without authority. This centralization of power characterizes autocracy.

How do presidential powers in Cuba differ from those in Brazil or Mexico?

• In Cuba, the president has legislative powers.

• In Cuba, the president is a figurehead with no power.

• In Cuba, the president is not the sole source of power.

• In Cuba, the president claims the right to rule with absolute power.

Answer explanation

In Cuba, the president claims the right to rule with absolute power, unlike Brazil or Mexico where presidential powers are more limited and balanced by other branches of government.

How is the citizen participation in Brazil and Mexico similar?

• Citizens are forced to join the majority political party.

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

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

• Citizens vote for members of the legislative and executive branch.

Answer explanation

In both Brazil and Mexico, citizens participate in democracy by voting for members of the legislative and executive branches, allowing them to influence government decisions and policies.

Which country has an autocratic government?

• Brazil

• Canada

• Cuba

• Mexico

Answer explanation

Cuba has an autocratic government, characterized by a single-party system led by the Communist Party. In contrast, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico have democratic governments with multiple political parties.

How might the form of government affect the role of the citizens in Cuba?

• Cuba has a dictatorship, which limits the voting rights of the citizens.

• Cuba has a dictatorship, which allows for greater voting rights of the citizens.

• Cuba has a federal-republic system, which limits the voting rights of the citizens.

Answer explanation

Cuba's dictatorship restricts citizens' voting rights, limiting their ability to participate in government decisions. This contrasts with systems that promote broader electoral participation.

Which answer BEST describes how a parliamentary democracy differs from a presidential democracy?

• The legislative branch in the presidential system is always unicameral.

• In a parliamentary democracy, the head of the government is a member of the legislature.

• In a presidential democracy, political power is shared between state and federal governments.

• In a parliamentary democracy there are usually two main political parties; in the presidential system there is only one.

Answer explanation

In a parliamentary democracy, the head of government (often the prime minister) is elected from the legislature, ensuring a direct link between the executive and legislative branches, unlike in a presidential democracy.

         · Is ruled by a head of government and a head of state
· Often has a bicameral legislative branch
· United Kingdom and Canada are examples

What type of government system are these items describing?

• confederation

• oligarchy

• parliamentary

• presidential

Answer explanation

The items describe a parliamentary system, where a head of government (like a Prime Minister) and a head of state (like a monarch) coexist, and countries like the UK and Canada exemplify this structure.

Which phrase BEST completes this diagram?

• Citizens can impact and change their government.

• Citizens cannot impact or change their government.

• 1. Citizens have many alternatives to the Communist Party.

• Citizens have no alternatives to the Communist Party.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'Citizens have no alternatives to the Communist Party,' reflects a lack of options for citizens, indicating they cannot influence or change their government, which aligns with the context of a one-party system.

What kind of democracy does this diagram represent?

• Parliamentary democracy

• Presidential democracy

• Autocracy

• Oligarchy

Answer explanation

The diagram represents a parliamentary democracy, where the executive branch derives its legitimacy from the legislature and is accountable to it, distinguishing it from presidential systems where the president is elected separately.