Vocabulary
a sovereign state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory
what are city-states
This triggered the evolution of more formal systems of government
what is the invention of farming
a democratic form of government in which elected representatives make public decisions on behalf of the citizens
What is a representative democracy
This form of government is led by religious leaders.
what is a theocracy
In Saudi Arabia, this monarch holds real legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
Who is King Salman
a democratic form of government in which citizens make public decisions directly, either in a popular assembly or through a popular vote
what is a direct democracy
an economic and political system of the European Middle Ages in which landowners granted land to tenants in return for military assistance and other services
what is feudalism
This form of government is ruled by a hereditary leader such as a king or queen.
What is a monarchy
This 12-member body in Iran ensures laws follow Islamic principles.
what is the Council of Guardians
This independent city-state is the spiritual center of the Catholic Church.
What is Vatican City
the sudden overthrow of a government by a small group of military officers or political leaders; from a French term meaning “blow to the state”
what is a coup d’état
one of the earliest written legal systems, said to be divinely inspired written by Hammurabi
what are the code of laws (Hammurabi's code)
One advantage of monarchy is this ability to make decisions quickly without political debate.
What is efficiency
This system allows only one political party to govern.
what is a single-party stae
This U.S. governor was elected in 2003 through a recall election.
Who is Arnold Schwarzenegger
a small group of people within a larger group who have more power, wealth, or talent than the others
what are the elite
the three systems that gave total control to one leader or party and limited people’s freedoms.
what is the divine right of kings
This type of regime uses military and police control to suppress opposition.
What is an authoritarian regime
Who usually chooses the prime minister in a parliamentary democracy
What is the party with the most seats in parliament
If parliament passes this type of vote, the prime minister must resign.
What is a vote of no confidence
a majority vote in parliament showing disapproval of a prime minister’s performance; such a vote prompts new elections and a change of leadership
what is a vote of no confidence
What is one advantage and one disadvantage of a presidential democracy
Advantage: gives people a direct say in choosing their president, which can make the president more responsive to the public. Presidents may have stronger public support than prime ministers. Also, Fixed terms help keep the system stable.
Disadvantage: it’s very hard to remove a president before their term ends, even if they’re unpopular. If the president’s party doesn’t control the legislature, it can lead to gridlock—where little gets done. In some cases, presidents have used their power to become authoritarian leaders.
A disadvantage of presidential democracy occurs when little progress is made due to divided government.
What is gridlock