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SS7CG1 Forms of Government - Printable Social studies Worksheets class 6 - Wayground

SS7CG1 Forms of Government

Melissa Houghton

Created by Melissa Houghton

10 questions

6th - 8th Grade

Social studies

This Grade 6–8 Social Studies worksheet builds students’ ability to distinguish autocracy from democracy and compare parliamentary and presidential democracies. Across 10 questions—3 multiple-select and 7 multiple-choice—students identify autocratic actions such as censorship and punishment of critics, recognize democratic participation, and determine how power is organized between the legislative and executive branches. Students also apply the ideas of fusion of powers, separation of powers, and checks and balances to identify parliamentary and presidential systems, including interpreting diagrams that represent each type of democracy. The questions require students to select all correct characteristics, compare government structures, and connect forms of government with citizens’ rights and political participation. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key and is designed for middle school Social Studies instruction, independent practice, review, or assessment.

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SS7CG1 Forms of Government

Total questions: 10

Name
Class
Date
1.

Check all the actions that are most likely to occur in an autocracy. (Choose 3.)

a)

A citizen is imprisoned for criticizing the government.

b)

Television news programs interview people on two different sides of a public issue.

c)

Citizens criticize the government without fear of imprisonment.

d)

A newspaper is shut down for publishing negative reports about the government.

e)

The military uses tear gas on a group of nonviolent protestors.

2.

What is the main difference between a parliamentary democracy and a presidential democracy?

a)

the relationship between the executive branch and the judicial branch

b)

the relationship between the judicial branch and the legislative branch

c)

the relationship between the legislative branch and the executive branch

3.

Choose the TWO questions that could be answered with the word autocracy.

a)

Which type of government is most likely to restrict freedom of religion?

b)

Which type of government is most likely to include multiple political parties?

c)

Which type of government is most likely to censor television, radio, and Internet?

d)

Which type of government is most likely to transition from one leader to another peacefully?

4.

Power is strongest in the legislative branch of government through “fusion of powers” in a _______________ democracy.

a)

presidential

b)

parliamentary

5.

Check the TWO characteristics that describe a democracy.

a)

All people have power.

b)

Citizen have few opportunities to participate in government.

c)

One person has power.

d)

Citizens have many opportunities to participate in government.

6.
What kind of democracy does this diagram represent?

What kind of democracy does this diagram represent?

a)

presidential democracy

b)

parliamentary democracy

7.

Power is balanced between each branch of government through “separation of powers” in a _______________ .

a)

presidential

b)

parliamentary

8.

Which form of democracy provides the strongest protection against any branch of government becoming too powerful through a system of checks and balances?

a)

presidential democracy

b)

parliamentary democracy

9.

In which type of government do citizens commonly elect leaders?

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

both

d)

neither

10.
What kind of democracy does this diagram represent?

What kind of democracy does this diagram represent?

a)

presidential democracy

b)

parliamentary democracy

WaygroundAnswer Key

SS7CG1 Forms of Government

Total questions: 10

1.
a)

A citizen is imprisoned for criticizing the government.

, d)

A newspaper is shut down for publishing negative reports about the government.

, e)

The military uses tear gas on a group of nonviolent protestors.

2.
c)

the relationship between the legislative branch and the executive branch

3.
a)

Which type of government is most likely to restrict freedom of religion?

, c)

Which type of government is most likely to censor television, radio, and Internet?

4.
b)

parliamentary

5.
a)

All people have power.

, d)

Citizens have many opportunities to participate in government.

6.
b)

parliamentary democracy

7.
a)

presidential

8.
a)

presidential democracy

9.
a)

democracy

10.
a)

presidential democracy

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FAQs

What does the SS7CG1 Forms of Government worksheet cover?

This worksheet uses 3 multiple-select and 7 multiple-choice questions to assess how students distinguish autocracy from democracy and compare parliamentary with presidential democracy. Students identify autocratic actions, recognize democratic characteristics, interpret diagrams, and connect fusion of powers, separation of powers, and checks and balances to the correct democratic system.

How can I use this worksheet to teach forms of government?

Introduce the lesson by having students compare who holds power, how citizens participate, and how branches relate in each system. Then use the worksheet’s autocracy scenarios and democracy-characteristic items to discuss evidence before students answer the questions about fusion of powers, separation of powers, checks and balances, and the two diagrams. Ask students to explain why each selected option fits the form of government rather than relying on the government name alone.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this forms of government worksheet?

Students may select only one response on the multiple-select questions, overlook the required number of choices, or treat any criticism of government as a democratic characteristic without considering censorship or punishment. They may also confuse parliamentary fusion of powers with presidential separation of powers, or identify the diagram questions by guesswork instead of using the branch relationships shown.

How do I assign and grade this government worksheet?

The worksheet is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz on Wayground, and it includes a complete answer key for the 10 multiple-choice and multiple-select items. You can grade printed submissions by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app, while the digital version can be assigned through Wayground.

How can I differentiate this forms of government worksheet for my students?

In the worksheet’s Advanced Settings, adjust font spacing or choose a larger font size to make the multiple-choice and multiple-select items easier to read. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language while keeping the autocracy, democracy, and branch-power questions intact.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a broad collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across all subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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