Questions
1. What do an absolute monarchy, dictatorship, and oligarchy have in common?
A) The head of the state is chosen by Parliament.
B) Their citizens decide public issues for themselves.
C) Political power is exercised by representatives elected by the people.
D) A single individual or small group exercises control over government.
D) A single individual or small group exercises control over government.
2. Which type of government selects its executive leadership from the majority party in the legislature?
A) unitary
B) federal
C) confederal
D) parliamentary
D) parliamentary
3. The Venn Diagram compares two forms of monarchy.
Which might be considered an advantage of the type of monarchy shown on the right?
A It can negotiate peace treaties.
B It can act more quickly in a crisis.
C It provides stronger guarantees of individual rights.
D Its representatives can meet with foreign dignitaries.
B) It can act more quickly in a crisis.
4. Which statement is true of a federal but not of a unitary system of government?
A Its local governments are extensions of the central government.
B Its local governments cannot be abolished by the central government.
C Its central government usually appoints the leaders of local governments.
D Its central government delegates responsibilities to local governments to carry out.
B) Its local governments cannot be abolished by the central government.
5. Which statement completes the table?
A The Prime Minister is chosen by the monarch.
B The Prime Minister is chosen by the President.
C The Prime Minister is directly elected by voters.
D The Prime Minister is chosen by a majority of the Members of Parliament.
D) The Prime Minister is chosen by a majority of the Members of Parliament.
6. Based on the table, in which country is power held by a single person or a small group?
A Syria
B India
C South Korea
D Mexico
A) Syria
7. Based on the table, how are the governments of Syria, Mexico, and Brazil similar?
A All three governments are party dictatorships.
B All three governments are ruled by popular representatives.
C All three governments have separate executive and legislative branches.
D All three central governments have complete power over local government.
C) All three governments have separate executive and legislative branches.
8. Which list correctly identifies the three types of governments in the diagram? (click on the image)
A 1. Unitary; 2. Federal; 3. Confederal
B 1. Federal; 2. Presidential; 3. Unitary
C 1. Monarchical; 2. Parliamentary; 3. Communist
D 1. Communist; 2. Democratic; 3. Monarchical
A) 1. Unitary; 2. Federal; 3. Confederal
9. The photographs show one British and one American leader. What was a major difference between their governments?
A Churchill sat in the legislature as well as leading the executive branch.
B Churchill's power was checked by the executive branch.
C Lincoln was chosen to lead the executive by Congress.
D Lincoln did not serve for a fixed term in office.
A) Churchill sat in the legislature as well as leading the executive branch.
10. What did communism and socialism have in common?
A They often resulted in brutal dictatorships and economic stagnation.
B They believed that the ideal society was one in which government abolished all forms of private property.
C They both promoted a violent social revolution in which workers would take control of the government.
D They believed that government should provide services to the community to raise the average standard of living.
D) They believed that government should provide services to the community to raise the average standard of living.
11. Which form of government gives the most power to ordinary citizens?
A autocracy
B oligarchy
C absolute monarchy
D representative democracy
D) representative democracy
12. Which statement describes a socialist government?
A Primary political power rests with local governments.
B Taxes are low, but government services are extremely limited.
C The government owns several basic industries and provides many services at no cost.
D Private property is abolished and all goods and services are provided to citizens by the government.
C) The government owns several basic industries and provides many services at no cost.
13. What is one way in which a direct democracy and a representative democracy differ?
A how their citizens become informed
B how their citizens shape public policy
C how their citizens meet their civic obligations
D how their citizens express their views in public
C) how their citizens meet their civic obligations
14. Which statement identifies one way in which communists differ from socialists?
A Communists believe class conflict will lead to violence.
B Communists believe in the right to own private property.
C Communists believe social conditions are gradually improving.
D Communists believe technology is narrowing the gap between the poor and the rich.
A) Communists believe class conflict will lead to violence.
15. Which statement identifies a characteristic of the parliamentary system of government?
A Power is shared between the national and local governments
B The nation’s chief executive is a member of the national legislature.
C The nation’s chief executive is chosen by voters in a national election.
D The executive and legislative branches of the national government serve to check each other.
B) The nation’s chief executive is a member of the national legislature.
16. Which principle of government is NOT found in the parliamentary system of government?
A Limited government
B Separation of powers
C Popular sovereignty
D Individual rights
C) Popular sovereignty
17. In which form of government can the national government legally abolish local governments at any time?
A federal
B unitary
C confederal
D oligarchical
B) unitary