Types of Government and Their Characteristics

What is the primary characteristic of a government?

• It is led by a single, supreme ruler

• It is a group of people with the power to rule over a community

• It is a system where all citizens vote on every decision

• It is controlled by a small group of wealthy individuals

Which of these is a universal function of all governments?

• Electing leaders through citizen votes

• Funding the military to defend or invade countries

• Allowing citizens to disagree with laws without consequence

• Ensuring all power is controlled by one person

What are the three fundamental types of government?

• Monarchy, Dictatorship, Theocracy

• Autocracy, Democracy, Oligarchy

• Aristocracy, Democracy, Monarchy

• Autocracy, Theocracy, Dictatorship

In which type of government is all power controlled by one person?

• Democracy

• Oligarchy

• Autocracy

• Aristocracy

What is a defining characteristic of a dictatorship?

• The leader's child inherits power

• Citizens vote on every government decision

• Disagreement with the government is against the law

• Power is shared among a small group of wealthy families

What is a democracy often referred to as?

• The rule of the few

• Supreme power

• The rule of the people

• The rule of the rich

How are decisions typically made in a representative democracy?

• Every citizen directly votes on all laws and decisions

• A single, unelected leader makes all government decisions

• Citizens elect individuals to make decisions on their behalf

• Religious leaders interpret sacred texts to form laws

Which statement best describes an oligarchy?

• A government where one person holds all the power

• A government where leaders are chosen by citizen votes

• A government where a small group of people hold all the power

• A government ruled by a monarch whose heir will succeed them