The Origins and Evolution of Government
Question: In prehistoric times, small bands of hunter-gatherers often had decisions made by a few elders. What type of government does this describe?
A. Democracy
B. Council of elders
C. Monarchy
D. Republic
B. Council of elders
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England led to the creation of this type of government, where the monarch’s powers are limited.
A. Absolute monarchy
B. Constitutional monarchy
C. Direct democracy
D. Republic
B. Constitutional monarchy
Which of the following best describes a monarchy today?
A. Power is inherited, and the ruler may have varying degrees of authority
B. Citizens vote directly on all laws
C. Leaders are elected for fixed terms only
D. The military selects the head of state
A. Power is inherited, and the ruler may have varying degrees of authority
In most countries, there are at least two levels of government power. In the United States, what are these regional units called?
A. Provinces
B. Cantons
C. States
D. Prefectures
C. States
In a market economy, who primarily decides what goods and services to produce?
A. Government planners
B. Individual producers and consumers
C. Monarchs
D. Military leaders
B. Individual producers and consumers
Farming allowed people to settle in permanent villages, which led to new problems and the need for:
A. Laws and formal government
B. Direct democracy
C. City-states only
D. Military conquest
A. Laws and formal government
The American Revolution began in 1775 because colonists wanted to:
A. Become part of France
B. End slavery
C. Gain independence from British control
D. Support the monarchy
C. Gain independence from British control
A dictator comes to power by force, controls the military, and can rule without checks on power. What type of government is this?
A. Democracy
B. Autocracy / Dictatorship
C. Parliamentary democracy
D. Constitutional monarchy
B. Autocracy / Dictatorship
In a unitary system of government, power is:
A. Divided equally between national and regional governments
B. Concentrated in the national government
C. Held mostly by regional governments
D. Shared with citizens through referendums
B. Concentrated in the national government
Which of the following is a disadvantage of a pure market economy?
A. Encourages innovation
B. Efficient distribution of goods
C. Unequal distribution of wealth
D. Prices respond to supply and demand
C. Unequal distribution of wealth
(Scenario-based):
Question: A village builds walls, organizes an army, and debates how to share water. Which type of government is likely to develop to handle these problems?
A. Feudal system
B. City-state with centralized authority
C. Absolute monarchy
D. Representative democracy
B. City-state with centralized authority
During the French Revolution, chaos eventually allowed Napoleon Bonaparte to take power. He used secret police and propaganda to control citizens. What type of government did he establish?
A. Constitutional monarchy
B. Authoritarian regime
C. Direct democracy
D. Republic
B. Authoritarian regime
Iran changed from a monarchy to a government ruled by religious leaders in 1979. The supreme leader ensures all laws follow religious beliefs. What type of government does Iran have?
A. Oligarchy
B. Theocracy
C. Presidential democracy
D. Absolute monarchy
B. Theocracy
Switzerland has regions called cantons, each with its own language and local laws. The national government handles defense and international affairs. What type of system does this describe?
A. Unitary
B. Federal
C. Confederal
D. Autocratic
B. Federal
China controlled all major industries after 1949, deciding what to produce and how to distribute it. In the late 1970s, it introduced private business ownership but the government remained in control. What type of economic system does China have today?
A. Pure market economy
B. Command economy
C. Mixed economy / Market socialism
D. Traditional economy
C. Mixed economy / Market socialism
This Sumerian leader, known as “the true king,” conquered neighboring city-states to create one of the first empires.
A. Hammurabi
B. Pericles
C. Sargon of Akkad
D. Louis XIV
C. Sargon of Akkad
In the 20th century, some totalitarian governments used strict control over citizens’ lives. Which of the following correctly pairs a leader with the type of totalitarianism?
A. Joseph Stalin – Fascism
B. Benito Mussolini – Communism
C. Adolf Hitler – Nazism
D. Karl Marx – Authoritarian monarchy
C. Adolf Hitler – Nazism
In a parliamentary democracy like the United Kingdom or Denmark:
A. The president is both head of state and head of government
B. The legislative majority selects a prime minister to lead the government
C. Citizens vote directly on all laws, like in Switzerland
D. The monarch has unlimited power
B. The legislative majority selects a prime minister to lead the government ✅
Under a confederal system:
A. The central government has most of the power
B. Regional governments retain most of the power
C. Citizens vote directly on all laws
D. A monarch rules each region
B. Regional governments retain most of the power
Germany and Sweden use systems that combine market capitalism with government social programs. This type of system is called:
A. Command economy
B. Pure market economy
C. Mixed economy
D. Feudal economy
C. Mixed economy
In ancient Athens, citizens met in an assembly to vote directly on laws. Women, slaves, and foreigners could not participate. What type of government is this, and what is its limitation?
A. Republic; citizens elect representatives
B. Direct democracy; only a limited group of citizens could participate
C. Absolute monarchy; ruler has total power
D. Feudalism; loyalty is owed to a lord
B. Direct democracy; only a limited group of citizens could participate
You are a lawmaker studying constitutions. Your country’s current government gives almost all power to state governments, but citizens demand a stronger central government. A new constitution is written to balance power, set up checks and balances, and allow amendments over time. Which historical U.S. documents are being described, and why is this change significant?
A. Articles of Confederation replaced by the U.S. Constitution; it strengthens central government and prevents abuse of power
B. U.S. Constitution replaced by Articles of Confederation; it gives states more independence
C. Bill of Rights replaced the Articles of Confederation; it eliminates state power
D. Declaration of Independence replaced the Constitution; it allows for monarch rule
A. Articles of Confederation replaced by the U.S. Constitution; it strengthens central government and prevents abuse of power
Vietnam is a single-party state where the Communist Party controls all major decisions. Citizens have little voice in government. How does this system compare to the U.S. presidential democracy?
A. Both systems have elections and separation of powers
B. Single-party state limits citizen participation and checks on power; U.S. presidential democracy allows elected representatives and separation of powers.
C. Both systems allow direct democracy through referendums
D. Vietnam’s system is a constitutional monarchy similar to the U.S.
B. Single-party state limits citizen participation and checks on power; U.S. presidential democracy allows elected representatives and separation of powers
In the early United States under the Articles of Confederation, the central government was weak and could not enforce cooperation among states. After adopting the Constitution in 1787, the system changed. How did the government structure change, and why was this significant?
A. From federal to unitary; it allowed the national government to control all regions
B. From unitary to confederal; it gave regions more independence
C. From confederal to federal; it balanced power between the national and state governments, preventing inefficiency and conflict.
D. From monarchy to republic; it created a king with limited powers
C. From confederal to federal; it balanced power between the national and state governments, preventing inefficiency and conflict.
Question: A country wants to ensure equality and full employment but also allows some private businesses to operate under government oversight. However, workers have limited incentive to innovate, and goods may be lower quality than in other countries. Which economic system best describes this scenario, and what is its main challenge?
A. Pure market economy; competition can drive inequality
B. Government-controlled / command economy; inefficiency and low incentives
C. Mixed economy; balancing government and private interests is easy
D. Traditional economy; it does not respond to modern markets
B. Government-controlled / command economy; inefficiency and low incentives