Vocabulary
system where land is exchanged for loyalty and military service.
What is Feudalism?
This invention transformed wandering hunter-gatherer groups into permanent villages, sparking the need for formal governments.
What is farming?
This form of government is led by a hereditary ruler such as a king, queen, or sultan.
What is a monarchy?
In this system, the constitution concentrates power in the national government, which may appoint regional officials.
What is a unitary system?
a sovereign state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.
What is a City State?
He was the Akkadian ruler who conquered Sumerian city-states and declared himself “the true king.”
Who is Sargon of Akkad?
A coup d’état is defined as this sudden overthrow of a government by a small group.
What is a “blow to the state”?
Why might too much centralization in a unitary system cause problems for local communities?
Too much centralization can cause problems since one-size-fits-all policies may not suit every region, and national officials cannot fully understand local needs.
election where voters can remove an elected official before the end of their term.
What is a Recall election?
This Babylonian king is remembered for his famous code of laws, which he claimed came from the gods.
Who is Hammurabi?
Who leads in a Theocracy?
What are religious leaders?
In this system, power is divided between the national government and regional governments.
What is a federal system?
influential body in Iran ensuring laws conform to Islamic law.
What is the Council of Guardians?
This Greek city-state reorganized itself into a direct democracy in the fifth century B.C.E.
What is Athens?
In this type of government, only one political party is allowed to govern, forming the nation’s political elite.
What is a single-party state?
The first U.S. constitution created this system, where power resided in the states and the national government was weak.
What is a confederal system?
supranational organization modeled on a confederal system, where member nations share some powers but remain sovereign.
What is European Union (EU)?
This 1688 event in England established Europe’s first constitutional monarchy
What is the Glorious Revolution?
In this system, the party with the most seats in parliament selects the prime minister.
What is a parliamentary democracy?
What are the advantages and disadvantages for nations in joining a confederal-style union like the EU?
Advantages of Confederal Systems: Confederations allow states to cooperate while keeping control over their own affairs. This flexibility helps meet local needs and prevents the central government from becoming too powerful or authoritarian.
Weaknesses of Confederal Systems: The U.S. found its confederal system too weak. The central government could not resolve disputes or manage national issues effectively, threatening the nation’s survival.