Exploring Governance Structures

What is a key characteristic of a democracy?

• Absence of free speech

• Centralized decision-making

• Citizen participation in decision-making

• Limited voting rights

Name one type of democracy and describe it.

• Monarchical democracy

• Participatory democracy

• Direct democracy

• Representative democracy

What defines an autocracy?

• A system where power is shared equally among all citizens.

• A government where citizens vote on every issue directly.

• A form of government led by elected representatives.

• A system of government where one person or a small group holds absolute power.

How does citizen participation differ in democracies compared to autocracies?

• Citizen participation is the same in both systems.

• Democracies have no citizen participation.

• Citizen participation in democracies is active and encouraged, while in autocracies it is restricted and controlled.

• Autocracies encourage active citizen involvement.

What is an oligarchy?

• A political structure with no defined leadership.

• A government run by a single leader.

• A system where all citizens vote on every issue.

• A government controlled by a small group of people.

Provide an example of a country that operates under an autocratic system.

• Venezuela

• Cuba

• North Korea

• China

What role do political parties play in a democracy?

• Political parties are primarily focused on international relations.

• Political parties only serve to create divisions among citizens.

• Political parties do not influence government policies.

• Political parties play a crucial role in organizing elections, representing interests, facilitating participation, and ensuring accountability in a democracy.

How do electoral systems impact the representation of citizens?

• Electoral systems significantly influence the representation of citizens by determining how votes are converted into political power, affecting the inclusivity and diversity of representation.

• All electoral systems guarantee equal representation for all citizens.

• Electoral systems have no effect on political power.

• Electoral systems only influence voter turnout, not representation.

What are checks and balances in a political system?

• Checks and balances refer to the financial audits of government spending.

• Checks and balances are mechanisms in a political system that prevent any one branch of government from gaining too much power by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

• Checks and balances are agreements between political parties to share power.

• Checks and balances are the rules governing the electoral process.

Can you name a political ideology that supports democracy?

• Fascism

• Democratic socialism

• Libertarianism

• Monarchism