Government Basics
This is an institution through which a state maintains order and power.
What is government?
This form of government gives absolute power to one person.
What is an autocracy?
In this type of democracy, citizens vote directly on all government decisions.
What is direct democracy?
This term describes how power is distributed among levels of government.
What is a government system?
This system divides power between the national and state governments.
What is federalism?
This document explains the purpose of the U.S. government.
What is the Preamble?
This type of autocracy passes power through family inheritance.
What is a monarchy?
In this type of democracy, citizens elect leaders to make decisions for them.
What is representative democracy?
In this system, the national government holds all power.
What is a unitary system?
This nickname describes federalism where powers are mixed together like a cake.
What is marble cake federalism?
This term describes a political community with a defined territory and organized government.
What is a state?
In this form of government, power belongs to a group of people.
What is an oligarchy?
This rule determines decisions when more than half of voters agree.
What is majority rule?
In this system, the states hold most of the power.
What is a confederate (confederal) system?
This level of government includes the president and Congress.
What is the national (federal) government?
This word means the supreme and absolute authority to rule.
What is sovereignty?
This system has government controlled by religious leaders.
What is a theocracy?
The U.S. is this type of democracy with elected officials and a constitution.
What is a republic?
The U.S. under the Articles of Confederation used this system.
What is a confederate system?
These governments handle local issues like schools and roads within states.
What are state governments?
This type of democracy used in the U.S. includes elected representatives
What is a representative democracy?
In this system, a single political party holds power.
What is communism?
These are the people elected to make decisions on behalf of citizens.
What are representatives?
This system shares power between national and state governments.
What is a federal system?
This idea means different levels of government work together and share responsibilities.
What is cooperative federalism?