Autocracy vs. Democracy
Which type of government system vests all governing authority in a single leader?
Autocracy
Who serves as the symbolic head of state in the United Kingdom?
Monarch
At what age can Germans vote in state-level elections?
16 (for state-level elections)
Germany and the United Kingdom both have which type of democratic system?
Parliamentary
How many consecutive five-year terms can the head of government serve in Germany and the United Kingdom?
Two consecutive five-year terms
In a democracy, who exercises political power through voting?
Citizens
In Russia, what is the title of the head of government?
President
How long is the term for the Russian president?
Two consecutive six-year terms
In a parliamentary democracy, who appointed the nation's chief executive?
Nation's legislators (parliament)
How is the term length of the Russian president different from the leaders in Germany and the United Kingdom?
Longer (six years) in Russia
Name one European focus country that is classified as a democracy.
United Kingdom, Germany, or Russia
How is the head of government in Germany different from the head of government in the United Kingdom?
Monarch in the UK, Chancellor in Germany
What was the major change in the term length of the Russian president in 2008?
The term length of the Russian president was extended from four to six years in 2008.
Why would a parliamentary system be thought of as more stable than a presidential system?
In a parliamentary system, decisions are made with the help of a group, which can make the government more stable. This is because everyone in the group works together, making it easier to solve problems and agree on important decisions. In contrast, in a presidential system, the leader works more independently, which might lead to challenges if there are disagreements or problems to solve.
What are the reasons behind placing limits on how long political leaders can stay in power in democracies?
Term limits are often implemented to prevent the concentration of power and encourage a rotation of leadership.
What is a defining characteristic of an autocracy in terms of citizen involvement?
Citizens in an autocracy are not permitted any say in the decisions of their government.
Explain the role of the head of state in a parliamentary democracy.
The head of state in a parliamentary democracy has a largely ceremonial role.
Compare how old you need to be to vote in Germany, Russia, and the UK. Then, determine how this law might change how people make decisions in their countries.
In Germany, the voting age is 18, but 16-year-olds can vote in state elections which might help them get involved in politics early. In Russia and the UK, everyone votes at 18, showing that they think people should be a bit older to make big political decisions. So, in some places, they let younger people join in, and in others, they wait until everyone is a little older to vote.
What are some strengths of a parliamentary system?
A parliamentary system is like teamwork in government. It helps make decisions more smoothly because the leader works closely with a group of representatives. This system is stable, flexible, and encourages collaboration and fairness.
Why are term limits important?
Term limits are important because they make sure no one person has too much power for too long, and they give a chance for new ideas and leaders to come in, keeping things fair and democratic.
Provide an example of a country in the real world that currently operates under an autocratic system.
Answers may vary, but examples include North Korea, Saudi Arabia, China, Vietnam, or Cuba.
Compare and contrast the powers of the President in Russia with the Chancellor in Germany.
In parliamentary democracies like Germany, the head of government is accountable to the legislature and relies on parliamentary support, whereas in presidential democracies like Russia, the President, serving as both head of state and government, is elected separately and is not directly accountable to the legislature.
Why do some countries let people vote at different ages?
It's like setting rules for a game called "Democracy." Each country decides when they think it's fair for people to have a say in choosing leaders.
Compare and contrast Germany and the UK's parliamentary system.
Germany and the United Kingdom are similar in that they both use a team-based approach for governing, where leaders are chosen from a group. However, they have distinct differences, such as the UK having a monarch as a symbolic leader, while Germany has a separate president. The United Kingdom has a Prime minister and Germany has a Chancellor as their Chief Exective Head of State.
Why might some countries not use term limits?
They believe that term limits create instability and interruption. Leaders cannot carry out long term plans because new elections interrupt their rule.