Presidential vs Parliamentary
In which system do citizens usually vote directly for the president, and the executive and legislative branches are separate?
Presidential system
What type of government gives all power to one person?
Autocracy
True or False: In many democracies, citizens over 18 have the right to vote.
True
What type of economy is one in which the government makes major economic decisions?
Command economy
Which country is an example of a parliamentary democracy?
Canada
In a parliamentary democracy, who typically selects the head of government?
The legislature (parliament) selects the head of government (prime minister)
What term names a system where one political party controls government and opposition is limited?
Single-party state.
Which limitation is MOST LIKELY in a single-party state like Cuba? (Multiple choice: A. no right to vote; B. strong local governments; C. variety of political ideas; D. citizens’ views not truly represented)
The views of citizens are not truly represented in government.
In a command economy, who decides what goods will be produced?
The government (central planners)
Which country from the passage is described as a single-party state?
Cuba
Name one similarity shared by presidential and parliamentary democracies (short answer).
both may have elections for legislative seats / both have an executive and a legislature
Which answer best describes an autocracy compared with a democracy? (Multiple choice: A. small group vs citizens; B. one person vs citizens; C. one person vs small group; D. small group vs one person)
B. one person vs citizens
How are voting choices limited in a one-party system?
All candidates come from one party so voters cannot choose among different parties.
Which feature most clearly describes a pure command economy? (Multiple choice: A. government controls major industries; B. encourages entrepreneurship; C. production based on tradition; D. production based on supply and demand)
A. government controls major industries
Describe one way a single-party state like Cuba differs from a multi-party democracy like Canada (short answer)
Cuba has one party controlling candidates and limited choice; Canada has multiple parties and competitive elections
In which section of a Venn diagram comparing presidential and parliamentary democracies would you place “Citizens elect members of the legislature”?
(Both) — “Citizens elect members of the legislature.”
Give two reasons why a single-party state might limit citizens’ political choices (short answer)
to control dissent or keep power centralized; to prevent opposition parties from winning elections.
Which choice MOST LIKELY describes the head of a democratic government? (Multiple choice: A. royal family member; B. appointed military official; C. representative elected by the public; D. person chosen by religious leaders)
C. a representative elected by the public.
Give one negative feature of a pure command economy and one way introducing market elements can reduce that problem (short answer)
Negative — lack of opportunities for entrepreneurs; Market element — allowing private businesses can increase innovation and consumer choices.
Why might some countries choose a parliamentary system over a presidential system? Provide two reasons (short answer).
parliamentary systems can pass laws faster when the majority party supports the government; they allow the legislature to remove an ineffective government through votes of no confidence.
Explain how the separation (or lack of separation) of powers affects political stability in a presidential system versus a parliamentary system (2–3 sentences).
Presidential systems can make decisions slower when leaders disagree. Parliamentary systems can make decisions faster, but the government can lose power if people stop supporting it.
Compare and contrast an autocracy and a single-party state — include at least one similarity and one difference (2–3 sentences).
Similarity — both can concentrate power and limit opposition. Difference — autocracy centers power in one ruler, while a single-party state uses a party structure to control political life.
Explain how election rules and party systems affect whether citizens’ votes lead to real policy changes (2–3 sentences).
If elections are free and multiple parties compete, votes can change policy. If one party controls nominations or elections are restricted, votes rarely change government decisions.
Using the Soviet Union as an example, explain how the three basic economic questions (what, how, for whom) were answered in a command economy (2–3 sentences).
The Soviet government decided what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom—central planners set production quotas and distribution targets rather than market demand.
Pick one country mentioned in the passage and explain how its government type affects citizens’ choices and daily life (2–3 sentences). Example answers may discuss Canada, Cuba, or the Soviet Union.
Canada — parliamentary democracy lets citizens choose legislators who then select the head of government, giving voters influence over policy through parties. Cuba — as a single-party state, citizens have fewer choices in candidates, which can limit policy change based on public opinion. Soviet Union — central planning affected daily life by deciding available goods and services.