ss.8.CG.3.2 Systems of Govt (Assessment #s)

Where is power concentrated in a unitary system of government?

• with central level authority 

• with state level authority 

• with the legislature 

• with the military 

Answer explanation

Power is concentrated in the central “unit” in a unitary government. This central government decides how much power, if any, that state, regional, or local governments will have.

B is Incorrect- Political systems where power is held mostly at the state level are considered confederal governments.

C is Incorrect- A unitary system of government may or may not place power in the hands of a legislature.

D is Incorrect- Militaries are not systems of government, even though there are rules and powers within the military.

Which government system gives states the most power?

• confederal 

• federal 

• parliamentary 

• unitary 

Answer explanation

This is the correct answer because a confederal system of government is where power is distributed among a group of states.

B is Incorrect- In a federal system, power is shared between states and national government, States have some power, but not as much as they have in a confederation.

C is - In a parliamentary system, all power lies with a legislative body and the leader of the country is part of a legislature. States have only as much power as the national legislature wants them to have.

D is Incorrect- In a unitary system, all power lies with a central government. The states have no power in this system.

What system of government was in place after the United States adopted the U.S. Constitution?

• confederal 

• federal 

• oligarchy 

• parliamentary 

Answer explanation

The United States Constitution outlines a federal system of government. As a federal system, there are shared powers between the national and state governments.

A is Incorrect- The United States adopted a confederal government after it declared independence. The U.S. Constitution was ratified several years later.

C is Incorrect- The United States Constitution outlines a federal system of government but is not an oligarchy, which occurs when a small group of powerful people hold government power.

D is Incorrect—The United States Constitution outlines a federal system of government, not a parliamentary system, which is a system of government in which power lies with the legislative body and the leader of the country is part of the legislature.

This table describes a type of government. 

Which title completes this table?

• Parliamentary Government 

• Confederal Government 

• Federal Government 

• Unitary Government 

Answer explanation

A federal system is a system where power is shared between a central (national) government and state governments. Both the 

executive and the legislature are elected by the people.

A is Incorrect- A parliamentary system is a system where power lies with the legislative body and the leader of the country is part of, and is elected by, the legislature. The legislature is elected by the people.

B is Incorrect- A confederal system is a system where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government. Executives are elected by public officials, such as state legislatures.

D is Incorrect- A unitary government is a system where power is centralized. The executive may be a monarch who is not elected.

This table shows a comparison of two different systems of government. 

Which information completes this table?

• power shared / power 

  delegated

• rule by a democracy / rule by a monarchy

• role of government 

  expanded / role of 

  government limited

• power divided among the branches / power held by one branch

Answer explanation

A federal system is a system where power is shared between a central (national) government and state governments. In a unitary system, the central government holds the power and may or may not choose to delegate power/responsibilities to lower governments.

B is Incorrect- Democracy and monarchy are forms of government and not necessarily tied to systems of government. France, for example, is not a monarchy.

C is Incorrect- A unitary government is a system where power is centralized. In a unitary system the role of government is more expanded

D is Incorrect- Power sharing differences between federal and unitary systems of government refer to levels of government and not branches of government.

This statement was made by a government leader. 

No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. 

That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. 

Based on this statement, which action would the government leader support?

• conflict resolution within a country between a military dictator and a monarch

• development of diplomatic alliances with a newly 

  elected president

• taking sides in a conflict between two potential 

  military dictators

• creating a military alliance with a newly selected 

  oligarch

Answer explanation

Based on the statement, the government leader would request this action because a government where the people elect a president is reflective of a government where the people participate. The government reflects the will of the people through elections.

A is Incorrect- Based on the statement, the 

government leader would not request this action because the government leader does not support the interference of one nation with another, especially when dealing with countries that do not account for the will of the people, such as a dictatorship and monarchy.

C is Incorrect- Based on the statement, the 

government leader would not request this action because the government leader does not support the interference of one nation with another.

D is Incorrect- Based on the statement, the 

government leader would not support this action because an oligarchy establishes power in the hands of a few rather than in the hands of the people.

This is a brief description of education systems in the U.S. and France. 

The United States has a federal system of government. In the United States, state governments have more control over public education than

the federal government has. State governments and local school boards determine educational policy for their communities. 

France has a unitary system of government. In France, the national government determines the curriculum for the nation’s schools.

Students in schools across the country learn the same material at approximately the same time. 

Based on this information, which conclusion can be drawn about how government systems may influence educational policy?

• The federal system in the U.S. enables local officials to address the specific 

  needs of schoolchildren in their communities.

• The federal system in the U.S. limits opportunities for schools to explore new teaching methods in their communities.

• The unitary system in 

  France limits opportunities for the government to 

  prepare children for school programs.

• The unitary system in 

  France enables school 

  leaders to be flexible in meeting the needs of 

  minority populations.

Answer explanation

Each state and local community has the opportunity to pick educational programs and curriculum that can be specialized to fit the needs of the students in that area. With a unitary system, individual states/communities would be bound by one policy for the entire country.

B is Incorrect- Because the U.S. utilizes a federal system, state governments and local school boards can explore new teaching methods and curriculums to best reach the students within that region.

C is Incorrect- This passage doesn’t mention anything about the lack of preparation or opportunities available for school programs.

D is Incorrect- Under a unitary system there is limited flexibility for schools to meet the needs of minority populations because they are bound by the policies adopted for the whole country and must follow those.

This diagram shows a comparison of two different systems of government. 

Which would be considered an advantage of a federal system of government?

• There are fewer laws that governments have to 

  follow.

• It is easier for states to 

  enter treaties with foreign nations.

• There is a stronger national government to protect the nation.

• It is able to make quicker decisions with power 

  concentrated in one 

  individual.

Answer explanation

In event of an attack or invasion, a unified central government would serve as an advantage. Article IV of the U.S. Constitution outlines the protections provided to states by the national government.

A is Incorrect- In a federal system, state and national governments must follow all laws.

B is Incorrect- States are barred from entering into treaties with foreign nations. That is a right delegated to the national government only.

D is Incorrect- In a federal system, power is divided among multiple levels of government (national, state, local).

Which scenario describes a confederal system of government?

• Government A has a strong central government, with a legislative branch and an executive branch led by a prime minister and ministers of state. In Government A, there are 47 states, however the states are not independent. They rely on the central government for funding.

• Government B is a partnership between 28 countries. Everything that happens between partner countries is based on treaties that are voluntarily agreed upon by all members.

• Government C has an elected president, National Congress and Supreme Court. It also has states that have their own constitutions and executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The central government and states share power.

• Government D has a federal president and a federal chancellor. Legislative power is divided between a nationally elected parliament and a legislative body that represents governments of the regional states. In Government D, the states are also broken into government districts for additional regional 

  governance.

Answer explanation

The scenario for Government B is describing a confederal system of government. The power lies in the loose partnership of the 28 countries and not with a strong central 

government.

A is Incorrect- The scenario for 

Government A is describing a unitary system of government with the majority of power concentrated with the central government.

C is Incorrect- The scenario for 

Government C is describing a federal system of government as the power is shared between a national government and state governments.

D is Incorrect- The scenario for 

Government D is describing a federal system of government as the power is shared between a national government and state governments.