Who Rules
This form of government is ruled by a single person who usually inherits their power by birth right.
What is a monarchy
In this form of government, citizens elect representatives to make laws and decisions on their behalf.
Representative Democracy or a Republic
The U.S. Constitution splits power into three distinct branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Name this principle.
What is Separation of powers
This term describes any government system where political power is concentrated in a leader or elite group that is not constitutionally accountable to the people.
What is Authoritarian
A country's military general overthrows the president and cancels all future elections. What form of government was just created?
What is a dictatorship
This term describes a system of government where a small, wealthy, or powerful elite group holds all political power.
What is an Oligarchy
In this pure form of government, every single citizen votes on every law directly without using elected politicians.
Direct Democracy
his term describes the danger in a pure direct democracy where 51% of voters take away the rights of the other 49%.
What is tyranny of the majority
Authoritarian regimes often use this tactic—controlling news, TV, and social media—to prevent citizens from organizing or criticizing the government.
What is censorship
A small council of 5 wealthy CEOs makes all tax laws for a nation. What form of government does this reflect?
What is Oligarchy
In this type of government, laws and policies are written based strictly on religious scriptures and led by religious leaders.
what is a theocracy
This essential term means that no one—not even the President or members of Congress—is above the law.
What is Rule of Law
This constitutional principle guarantees that the government must follow fair, established legal procedures before taking away a citizen's life, liberty, or property.
What is Due Process
Unlike an absolute monarchy, which inherits power by birthright, a dictator usually gains power through political manipulation, election fraud, or this military action.
What is a coup (or military coup d'état)?
A town holds a meeting where all 200 residents vote directly on whether to build a new park. What form of governmentis this town using?
What is direct democracy
This form of autocracy occurs when a single leader takes control of a nation by force and maintains control through absolute authority.
What is a dictatorship
This document serves as the supreme law of the land in the United States, placing legal limits on government power.
What is the Constitution
This term describes government actions that are based on random personal whims or moods rather than fixed, predictable legal rules.
What is arbitrary Power
This extreme form of authoritarianism occurs when the government seeks total control over not just laws, but also the daily lives, thoughts, and economy of its citizens.
What is Totalitarianism
A governor gets pulled over for speeding and receives a ticket just like any other driver. Which core constitutional principle does this demonstrate?
What is Rule of Law?
In this Government a King has little or no power but serves a ceremonial role
What is a Constitutional Monarch
In an autocracy, the ruler's word is final. In a constitutional republic, what is the final authority over both citizens and political leaders?
What is the Constitution?
Each branch of Government under the Constitution has the power to limit the powers of other branches. This principle is known as..
What are checks and balances?
Explain why authoritarian governments often hold fake or one-party elections even though they have no intention of giving up power.
What is to create the false illusion of democracy and legitimacy?
A nation passes a law banning a minority religion because 75% of voters wanted it, but their Supreme Court strikes it down. Explain why the court took this action under a constitutional republic.
What is because the constitution protects individual/minority rights from being overridden by majority vote?