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Worksheets

Types of Government Systems

Total questions: 32

Worksheet time: 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who holds the majority/most of the power in a unitary system?

a)

The people

b)

National government

c)

Shared between the national and regional governments

d)

Regional governments

2.

Who holds the majority/most of the power in a confederal system of government?

a)

The people

b)

national government

c)

regional governments like state and local

d)

national government

3.

Who holds the majority/most of the power in a federal system?

a)

The people

b)

regional governments

c)

national government

d)

Shared between national and regional

4.

Which system of government does the United States have?

a)
Unitary state
b)

Federal

c)
Confederation
d)
Monarchy
5.

Who gets to make decisions is a government type, not a government system. The person that made the test may refer to it as a system, however.

a)

I understand

b)

I do not understand.

6.

What type of government is where one person has absolute authority?

a)
Democracy
b)
Monarchy
c)
Autocracy
d)
Oligarchy
7.

What type of government is where a small group of people holds all of the decision-making power?

a)
Theocracy
b)
Monarchy
c)
Oligarchy
d)
Democracy
8.

Please select the best response. In a democracy people:

a)

elect people to make decisions.

b)

One person make decisions.

c)

A small group makes decisions.

d)

Decisions are made by aliens from the planet Coruscant.

9.

How is the chief executive elected in a parliament?

a)

They are elected separately from the legislature like a president.

b)

They are selected from the legislature (legislative branch.)

c)

They have a boxing match and whoever wins is the Prime Minister.

10.

How is a president selected?

a)

Separate from the legislature.

b)

From within the legislature.

c)

From the judicial branch.

d)

Click here for a hint.

11.

In an indirect democracy/republic, how are laws and decisions made?

a)

A king decides

b)

The people decide by voting on every law.

c)

Citizens elect representative to decide,

d)

Flipping quarters.

12.

Which philosopher influenced direct democracy?

a)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
b)
Friedrich Nietzsche
c)
Aristotle
d)
Plato
13.

Which philosopher influenced the separation of powers?

a)
Hobbes
b)
Rousseau
c)
Kant
d)
Montesquieu
14.

Which philosopher thought the people were so bad that they needed to be ruled over by a "strong" ruler?

a)
John Locke
b)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
c)
Thomas Hobbes
d)
Immanuel Kant
15.

If you asked John Locke what the purpose of government is, he would say:

a)

"Government only should exist to protect life, liberty and property.

b)

"Government should exist so that everyone would have equal outcomes."

c)

"Government should exist to protect only the wealthy."

d)

"Government should control every aspect of our lives." Including what jobs we should have.

16.

Locke's view of natural rights is featured heavily in which document?

a)
Magna Carta
b)
Constitution
c)
Bill of Rights
d)
Declaration of Independence
17.

What was the arguments that led to the Great Compromise about?

a)

How states would be represented in Congress

b)
It aimed to establish a national bank.
c)
It focused on the election process of the President.
d)
It was about the abolition of slavery.
18.

What were the arguments that led to the 3/5 Compromise about?

a)

How enslaved persons would be counted for representation in Congress

b)

How enslaved persons would be counted for the purpose of selecting a president.

c)

Representation small and large states in Congress.

19.

Why did some people argue that the Articles of Confederation were weak?

a)

It gave too much power to Congress.

b)

It gave too much power to the chief executive.

c)

It gave too much power to the states.

d)

It gave too much power to the government to tax.

20.

This basic principle of the U.S. Constitution divided the functions of government into three branches:

a)

Popular sovereignty

b)

Separation of powers

c)

Checks and balances

d)

Rule of law

21.

This basic principle means that nobody, not even the President is above the law:

a)
Separation of powers
b)

Popular sovereignty

c)

Checks and balances

d)
Rule of law
22.

This basic principle is used when people elect representatives:

a)

Checks and balances

b)

Separation of powers

c)

Rule of law

d)

Popular sovereignty

23.

What did the Federalist support/want?

a)

A strong central government

b)

A circus with donkeys and elephants

c)

Stonger state governments than what was in the Articles of Confederation

24.

What did the Anti-Federalist not like the Constitution?

a)

The lacked a Bill of Rights

b)

They thought it should be etched in stone.

c)

It gave too much power to the regional governments and the people.

25.

Taxes, the military draft and jury duty are all

a)

voluntary

b)

involuntary civic duties

c)

privileges

d)

right

26.

Staying informed, voting, and volunteering are all

a)

voluntary civic responsibilites

b)

involuntary civic duties

c)

requirements

d)

things that are required by law.

27.

Which statement best represents what totalitarian governments do?

a)

They censor what you can say and read.

b)

They allow any religion

c)

They allow a free press.

d)

They are ultimately good for the people.

28.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

a)
The Truman Doctrine was a trade agreement with the Soviet Union.
b)
The Truman Doctrine was a U.S. policy to contain communism by providing support to countries resisting it.
c)
The Truman Doctrine was a plan to promote communism in Europe.
d)
The Truman Doctrine was a military alliance against NATO.
29.

Which of the following are examples of individual rights?

a)

Being guilty until proven innocent.

b)

government deciding what the media (the news, You Tube, CNN etc... can say

c)

Free speech, innocent until proven guilty, and ability to bear arms.

d)

Being told, by the government, what to produce and who you can give it to.

30.

Which of the following nations is the best example of federalism?

a)
Canada
b)

Great Britain

c)
United States
d)

Cubs

31.

What did the Magna Carta do?

a)

Gave free speech to everyone.

b)

Women the right to vote.

c)

Increased the rule of law and limited government.

d)

Started a new dance craze.

32.

What is important about the English Bill of Rights in Great Britain?

a)

Freedom of speech in parliament.

b)

Freedom of speech to everyone.

c)

Women's voting rights

d)

Right to bear arms.