Types of Gov't
In which type of government do the people have the most power?
Democracy
In what type of government does only one person have power?
Autocracy, but is sometimes divided into monarchy or dictatorship
From which ancient civilization did our idea for direct democracy come from?
Ancient Athens in Greece
List the main idea of the Magna Carta.
Rule of law- the idea that no one is above the law
Which government principle states that the people give up some rights to the government in order to get protection from the government?
Social Contract
In Ardonia, power is shared between a national government and 50 state governments. Both levels can make and enforce laws, and they often cooperate and sometimes disagree. Which type of geographic distribution of power does this government have?
In the country of Zamara, all laws are made by the central government in the capital. Local regions follow orders from the national government and have little say in national policies. Which type of geographic distribution of power does this government have?
Unitary= central government has the most power
What makes democracies different from other types of governments like oligarchies, monarchies, or theocracies?
In democracies the people have power and can make a difference in their government by voting.
What two things could people do, according to Locke, if their government did not protect their rights?
Change or abolish it
The idea that no person is above the law matches with which government principle?
Rule of law
In Gavaria, a wealthy elite control the legislature and economy. The public has no real influence, and decisions are made to benefit the ruling class. What political system does this country have?
Oligarchy
Who has the most power in the following types of governments: unitary, federal, confederal?
Unitary= national government
Federal= power is shared
Confederal= State/regional governments
In the most simple of terms, what is the difference between a direct democracy and a republic? Which of these systems is used more today?
Direct democracy= everyone votes on everything
Republic=representatives are elected to make decisions; used more today
List the three rights given by natural law according to John Locke
Life, Liberty, and Property/Land
Louis XIV supposedly state "I am the state", referring to his vast amount of power. What type of government did he have?
In Trenovar, the central government holds all major powers. A single ruler, who inherited the throne from their parent, governs for life and makes all major policy decisions. Identify both the distribution of power and the political system of this government.
Distribution of power: Unitary
Political system: Monarchy
In Norlund, regional governments have nearly all the power. The national government only exists to help the states cooperate on defense and trade, but cannot enforce laws on its own. Which type of geographic distribution of power does this government have?
Confederal= regions have the most power
In Solvaria, the national government shares power with strong state governments. All adult citizens meet in assemblies several times a year to vote directly on laws without representatives.
Identify both the distribution of power and the political system for this government.
Distribution of power: Federal
Political system: Direct Democracy
What idea did John Locke and Thomas Hobbes have in common concerning the purpose of government?
They both believed in the social contract theory.
The Declaration of Independence states that what truths were self-evident?
1. All men were created equal
2. Given rights by their Creator
In Zandria, all government authority is in the hands of the capital city’s leaders. One general holds absolute power after a military coup. Identify both the distribution of power and the political system
Distribution of power: unitary
Political system: dictatorship
In Meridia, people elect representatives to a national legislature, but the legislature must share power with state governments that have their own laws and courts. Identify both the distribution of power and the political system
Distribution of power: federal
Political system: representative democracy
Presidential: Executive and legislative branches are separate; president is elected by the people; not easy to remove the president
Parliamentary: Executive and legislative branches are combined; prime minister is chosen by the majority party in parliament; somewhat easy to remove the prime minister
How has our government been inspired by the writings of the Baron de Montesquieu?
Montesquieu believed that the different powers of the government should be in separate branches and that each branch should have the power to check the power of another branch
Provide two ways John Locke influenced the Declaration of Independence.
Ideas of natural rights, social contract, people have the right to overthrow bad governments.