chapter 1 / unit 1: introduction to government american government final exam review0

Chapter 1 / Unit 1:Chapter 1 / Unit 1:

Introduction to Introduction to GovernmentGovernment

American Government Final Exam Review 1

The three basic economic systems in the world today include Capitalism, Socialism, and ___________.

• Communism

2American Government Final Exam Review

What is politics?

• The effort to control or influence government conduct and policies which provides a peaceful way for society to manage conflict and competition.


What is economics?

• The study of human efforts to satisfy seemingly unlimited wants with limited resources.


In an autocracy, power is concentrated in the hands of ___________.

• A single individual


In this type of democracy the people are literally the government and collectively make decisions for the whole of society.

• Direct Democracy


What is the largest political unit in the world today?

• The Nation-State


What is the most essential function of government?

• Providing order


This is a belief that a ruler’s power comes directly from a supreme being (God).

• Divine Right


What are the major purposes of the state?

• Maintain law and order• Promote the general welfare / provide public

services / solve problems• Preserve culture• Provide for national defense and domestic order• Regulate and promote economic activity


How do governments serve the needs of society?

• Pass and enforce laws• Set goals for society• Distribute benefits


Before man lived in groups / society he existed in a state of _________.

• Nature


When a government has the right to govern / rule a society is has ___________ power.

• Sovereign


What are the three types of governmental structure used in the world today?

• Unitary, Federal, Confederate


In what type of governmental structure is power shared between the various levels of government?

• Federal


What country in the world uses a federal structure?

• United States


In what type of governmental structure does power flow from the top down to lesser governmental units?

• Unitary


What is the most commonly found governmental structure in the world today?

• Unitary


What country uses a unitary structure today?

• Great Britain, France


In what type of governmental structure does a loose association of powerful states exist with a weak centralized government?

• Confederate


What are some of the characteristics of a confederate government?

• Power states, weak national (centralized) government

• Severe limits on national power• All members must agree to take action before action

can be taken• Cooperation is normally voluntary


What political union in the modern world is the best example of a confederation?

• European Union


Did the United States ever use a confederate form of government?

• Yes, twice – Articles of Confederation, Confederate States of America


In this type of government a king or queen has unquestioned authority.

• Absolute monarchy


Under the Evolutionary Theory, government developed as an extension of what societal unit?

• The family


Under the Force Theory, government why did governments come into existence?

• For protection from outside groups (safety in numbers, mutual protection from a common threat)

• Because of conquest by a stronger group over a weaker group.


In what country in the world would you find an absolute monarchy today?

• Saudi Arabia


In this type of government a king or queen is the symbolic leader of a nation but doesn’t have any real power or authority.

• Constitutional monarchy


In what country would you find a constitutional monarchy today?

• Great Britain


What is considered to be the birth place of democracy?

• Athens, Greece / Ancient Greece


Approximately when was democracy born in Athens, Greece?

• 500 BC


What economic system is associated with free enterprise, private property, laissez-faire governmental policy, and free markets?

• Capitalism


What are the five characteristics associated with capitalism?

• Private ownership of property and resources• Free enterprise• Business competition• Freedom of choice• The possibility of profits


Who is considered the father of capitalism?

• Adam Smith, articulate the tenants of capitalism in his book, The Wealth of Nations written in 1776.


What does the term “laissez-faire” mean?

• “To let alone” – a governmental policy that allows the market to drive economics rather than the government.


Every economic system in the world today blends and incorporates elements of Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism. These countries have . . .

• Mixed Economies


Who wrote the Communist Manifesto?

• Karl Marx


Under Communism, who are considered the bourgeoisie?

• Those who own the means of production (capitalists)


What are some of the characteristics of a Communist economic system?• Only a Communist political party / government can

exist in society.• The government owns all means of production• There is no private property• There are no wages, rents, interests, or profits• Teach to their own abilities• Total employment


What are three goals of Socialism?

• Public ownership of most land and the means of production

• Government control over most economic decisions• Equal distribution of wealth


Identify key characteristics found in democracies

• Majority rule but minority rights• Individual liberty• People hold sovereign power• Free elections• Competing political parties


In this form of democracy, the people select representatives who in turn voice their opinions and concerns within government.

• Representative Democracy


In this form of democracy, the executive and legislative branches are combined into one body. It is also the most common form of democracy in the world today.

• Parliamentary Democracy


In this form of democracy, the executive and legislative branches are elected separately and often work at cross purposes against each other.

• Presidential Democracy


In order for a democracy to take root in a society and actually work what are some key components that are required to be in place?• Citizenship participation• A favorable economy / large middle class• Widespread education• A strong civil society• A social consensus


According to this theory, people voluntarily left the state of nature to join together to form societies. In the process they agreed to forfeit their absolute freedom in return for living in a society.

• Social Contract


Which person first articulated the concept of the social contract?

• Thomas Hobbs, English philosopher


According to Thomas Hobbs, once mankind accepted the social contract government has absolute ________ to rule as it wishes.

• power


John Locke, a later English philosopher, argued that the social contract is not binding when . . .

• The government becomes tyrannical. People have the right to reject, remove, and replace governments.


Which Greek philosopher first classified the three types of government found in his world in ancient Athens?

• Aristotle


Identify Aristotle’s three classifications of government.

• Autocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy


Autocracy means . . .

• Rule by one person.


Democracy means . . .

• Rule by many.


Under this form of government the leadership / control of a nation is concentrated in the hands of very small group of people.

• Oligarchy


What are the four essential features of a state (country)?

• Population, Territory, Sovereignty, Government


What is a political community with definite boundaries and an independent government?

• A State


What is the institution through which a state maintains social order, provides public services and enforces the nation's laws

• Government


What is a constitution?

• A plan of government


What are the key characteristics of Totalitarianism?

• The power of the state is unlimited• The needs of the state come before the needs of the

people• All citizens must work for the common goals

established by the government


What country in the world would be a good example of totalitarian rule?

• North Korea


Under Fascism, how does the government help to maintain control of the population?• Use of stereotypes (Jews in Nazi Germany) and

appeals to racial superiority• Appeal to extreme patriotism• The militarization of society


What are the four characteristics of a democracy?It promotes individual liberty, or equal opportunity for

all people.It is based on majority rule with minority rights. It requires elections in which candidates can express

their views freely, voting requirements are few and non-discriminatory, and each person's vote is equal and cast by secret ballot.

It allows competing political parties, with different approaches to issues to give voters a choice.


chapter 1 / unit 1: introduction to government american government final exam review0

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confederate government

confederate form of

weak centralized government

influence government

various levels of government

type of governmental

power states

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