Government and Democracy Quiz

Lecture Focus — What is government? Choose the best definition.

• An organization that manages private businesses for profit

• A system by which a community or state makes and enforces public policies

• A voluntary club that promotes social activities

• A religious institution that guides moral behavior

Lecture Focus — Which major characteristics do all states share? Select all that apply.

• Population

• Territory with recognized boundaries

• Direct democracy

• Sovereignty

• A single political party

Lecture Focus — What are the major functions of government? Select all that apply.

• Maintain order and security

• Provide public services and infrastructure

• Resolve conflicts through law and courts

• Control all private economic activity

• Protect rights and promote the general welfare

Lecture Focus — What theories of rule have been put forth to explain government? Select all that apply.

• Divine right theory

• Social contract theory

• Force theory

• Evolutionary theory

• Anarchy theory

Lecture Focus — Describe the three main components of most governments. Choose the correct set.

• Executive, legislative, and judicial

• Military, religious, and commercial

• Local, regional, and national

• Monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy

Lecture Focus — What are the classic forms of government? Select all that apply.

• Monarchy (rule by a king or queen)

• Dictatorship/authoritarian rule

• Oligarchy (rule by a few elites)

• Theocracy (rule by religious leaders)

• Democracy (direct or representative)

How is national power organized differently in unitary, federal, and confederal systems? Choose the statement that best distinguishes the three.

• Unitary concentrates power in a central government; federal divides power between national and regional governments; confederal gives most power to regional governments with a weak center

• Unitary divides power between national and regional governments; federal concentrates power in the center; confederal abolishes regional governments

• Unitary and federal both give most power to regions; confederal reserves all power to the national government

• All three systems distribute power equally among national and regional governments

Compare and contrast presidential and parliamentary systems described with two overlapping circles. Which statement identifies a key difference between these systems?

• In a presidential system, the executive is chosen by the legislature; in a parliamentary system, the executive is independently elected by voters

• In a presidential system, the executive and legislature are separate; in a parliamentary system, the executive emerges from and is accountable to the legislature

• Both systems require the head of government to be a monarch

• Both systems prevent votes of no confidence against the head of government

Lecture Focus — Why are the ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government important to American democracy? Choose the best explanation.

• They justify hereditary rule by elites

• They provide core values that guide institutions and protect individual rights while ensuring consent of the governed

• They require abolishing elections

• They prioritize national security over civil liberties in all cases

Lecture Focus — What are the principles of American democracy? Select all that apply.

• Rule of law

• Limited government and constitutionalism

• Consent of the governed and popular sovereignty

• Majority rule with protection of minority rights

• Centralized economic planning